IENE11

EMPOWERING NURSES AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO PROMOTE VACCIONATION AND TACKLE VACCINE HESITANCY

01/12/2021 - 01/12/2023

https://iene-lgbt.com/

2021-1-RO01- KA220-VET000033055

KA2 COOPERATION PARTNERSHIP

166.957,00 EUR.

NATIONAL ERASMUS+ AGENCY (ROMANIA)

The proposed project is a strong response to the important and actual European issue aiming to support and train the healthcare professionals to promote vaccination and tackle with vaccine hesitancy.

The WHO listed vaccine hesitancy as  one of the top 10 public health threats in 2019.

The    Euro barometer survey 488  about attitudes towards vaccination made in 28 EU  States on  27,524 people, in  March 2019,  showed  that  31 % of  Europeans believed  that vaccines   weaken the immune system, 30%   can cause the diseases  and  48%  often produce serious side effects (in CY -65%, RO-53%, ES-43% and DK-35%).

Since 2018, fighting disinformation, and improving vaccine confidence are objectives shared by the EC and Member States and     continuous training of all healthcare a priority,  recommending to  strengthen the aspects related to vaccinology and immunization in the   medical curricula and education to tackle vaccine hesitance.

TheCOVID-19 crisis shed light on the importance of the vaccination, which became a top priority of the European Commission.

Disinformation and misinformation  around  COVID-19 raised concerns about  vaccines. Media coverage, particularly via the Internet, sometime fuel public fears about the safety of vaccines, which likely make the uptake of vaccines more difficult.

Also, a part of healthcare workers themselves are vaccine-hesitant, whether considering vaccination for themselves or their patients. 

The EU Strategy for COVID-19 vaccines, 15 October 2020,  underlined that work with health professionals as trusted sources on vaccination matters  and is important to address vaccine hesitancy, tackle the misinformation and disinformation, ensure clear communication on the benefits, risks and importance of COVID-19 vaccines and build  public confidence in vaccines.

The curriculum for nurses   do not include extensive topics on vaccination.

 Staff from Covid-19  vaccination centers has been trained, focusing on the vaccination procedures but  there are not specific training programs for nurses and healthcare professionals  on promoting vaccination.

As nurses, doctors and healthcare workers from community-based or school-based  services, pharmacies, points to deliver vaccination remain the most trusted source of information, provision of information material and specific trainings on  communication and  social relationship  are  highly necessary to help them to  communicate with  people that are more hesitant.

Coordination: EDUNET Craiova Dolj, Romania

Cyprus University of Technology, (Cyprus)

National Kapodistrian University of Athens, (Greece)

University of Almería (Spain)