Communications Made Easy

Communications Made Easy: New Media and Social Marketing Assistance and Training for Immunization Coalitions and Health Departments

Background: Immunization coalition members and health departments have difficulty allocating the resources (staffing, funding) necessary for educational outreach and social marketing. However, the popularity of social media provides new opportunities to reach a wide audience with immunization information. To more easily meet the goal of maintaining high immunization rates across the lifespan, health departments and immunization coalitions need to leverage new media communications and social marketing practices that will make their work easier, less expensive, and more effective. This requires education and training in new communication methods as well as social marketing strategies that are efficient and inexpensive.

Setting: Various virtual settings that facilitate collaboration and information-sharing, including but not limited to websites, online communities, email, teleconferences and webinars, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and instant messaging.

Population: Public health professionals and educators seeking to augment their organizations’ existing communications and educational outreach with new media technologies and social marketing strategies.

Project Description: As one part of PKIDs’ Communications Made Easy (CME) program, an eToolkit has been created that includes explanations, examples, and recommendations for a broad selection of traditional and new media tools. These tools are available online, and many are accompanied by video tutorials. Training sessions are conducted via webinars/conference calls, and participants have access to technical support as they establish and develop their organization’s new media presence. Evaluation of the project's results is conducted at regular intervals. The successful conclusion of the project will improve health departments' and coalitions' abilities to effectively communicate immunization information and improve networking and resource-sharing between health departments, coalitions, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations.  

Results/Lessons Learned: N/A