VaxSocial Learning Seminar #3

The third webinar in the VaxSocial Learning Seminar series explored early impact and emerging outcomes from across the VaxSocial portfolio. Building on previous discussions around social media in action and bridging online and offline engagement, the session examined what integrated digital tools are beginning to show about strengthening immunisation confidence, improving caregiver motivation, and supporting vaccination behaviours.

‍

The discussion highlighted an emerging pattern: integrated digital tools can help shift knowledge, attitudes and confidence at scale, but behaviour change is strongest when confidence-building is paired with practical support. Across the portfolio, the clearest signals appeared where digital engagement helped make vaccination easier, clearer and more actionable - linking online demand to trusted messengers, two-way support and real-world opportunities to vaccinate.

‍

The session also shared preliminary portfolio-level scale figures, including more than 18 million people actively engaged in social media content or a digital health tool, 100,000 people attending immunisation information sessions, 200,000 people onboarded to interactive two-way tools such as WhatsApp support groups, hotlines and chatbots, and 3,000 healthcare workers trained. These figures are still being finalised and should be read as early estimates.

‍

The webinar featured three grantee spotlight presentations:

‍

• Indonesia – CISDI: Shared learning from Keluarga Berimun, a multi-channel routine immunisation intervention linking paid digital campaigns, a website, WhatsApp support groups and a hotline with community health workers, PKK cadres, Posyandu, Puskesmas and local health offices.

‍

• Nigeria – Upswell/VITAL: Demonstrated how geographically targeted Facebook and Instagram campaigns amplified trusted local pharmacists and promoted government-run HPV vaccination outreach events, helping connect motivated caregivers to clear, accessible opportunities to vaccinate.

‍

• Nigeria – askNivi: Presented findings from WhatsApp chatbot vaccination journeys in Lagos, showing how tailored journeys, referrals and follow-up can help caregivers navigate vaccination decisions, with stronger emerging effects for HPV than routine immunisation.

‍

The session also explored capacity building as a core part of integrated digital delivery. Across the portfolio, training helped build digital skills and confidence among healthcare workers, but sustained impact depended on giving local actors ownership, permission and ongoing support to use those skills in the field.

‍

The webinar concluded with a discussion on where integrated digital tools may be most useful across immunisation programmes - not as standalone communications campaigns, but as part of broader health systems that connect online engagement to trusted people, practical support and reachable services.