Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Recruiting
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT05042011 |
| Other study ID # |
2020-5316-14620 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Recruiting |
| Phase |
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
March 1, 2021 |
| Est. completion date |
November 30, 2021 |
Study information
| Verified date |
September 2021 |
| Source |
Aga Khan University |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Observational
|
Clinical Trial Summary
In order to improve routine immunization uptake during COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand
the perceptions and barriers related to vaccine hesitancy and coverage during COVID 19 and to
explore the need for COVID-19 vaccination, separately and as a part of routine immunization,
the investigators will be using qualitative methodology to explore and understand the role of
mHealth and social media interventions, that are most suitable in Pakistani context to
improve vaccination coverage during COVID-19 pandemic.
Description:
The application of information and communication technologies (through such digital health
methods as SMS, phone calls and automated calls, smartphone apps and wearable technology) has
paved the way for modification of health-related knowledge and bring in the behavior change
and practices to decrease vaccine hesitancy and improve immunization uptake. Mass and social
media are influential in the dissemination of information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, as
well as the development and use of vaccines, not only for COVID-19 but also CRI. However, the
same low-cost/free and accessible methods (social media platforms) that enable
low/middle-income populations to communicate, connect and access information can also be the
main factor in the distribution and prevalence of unregulated, unverified misinformation. In
particular, the anti-vaccination movement, which has been identified as a major factor for
vaccine hesitancy is the result of spreading misinformation through these same social media
platforms.
In light of the current pandemic and distancing measures, CRI coverage is adversely affected
as caregivers avoid tertiary care hospitals or primary health centers. This has further
increased the risk of outbreak for vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as economic burden
due to morbidity and mortality and delay in caregiver getting back to work. A recent survey
by an international consortium also illustrated a decline in vaccination coverage across all
milestone age groups, except for vaccines administered at birth in hospital like Hepatitis B.
Hence due to reduced vaccination rates, various countries are experiencing outbreaks of
previously controlled diseases globally like measles, rubella, tuberculosis, and rotavirus,
and has even caused new mutated strains of polio to reemerge. However, for the first time in
almost three decades there has been the significant decrease in the coverage of DPT3 vaccine
dose.
Pakistan is identified as a LMIC with high vaccine hesitancy and is third among countries
with the most unvaccinated/under-vaccinated children. It ranks fourth in global child
mortality, with 60% of deaths due to infectious diseases that are vaccine-preventable. The
EPI coverage for fully immunized children were estimated to be 65% and 88% at national level
respectively in the past two survey reports. However, rates for Sindh province are even lower
with fully immunized children rates of 39% and 80% respectively. Further Pakistan is among
three polios endemic country and among top 5 countries with the most unvaccinated and
under-vaccinated children. With further decrease in immunization rates due to current
pandemic, vaccination coverage has only plummeted all time low coverage further due to
disruption in vaccination services and demand, causing new outbreaks of previously controlled
diseases like new polio strains, measles and rubella. Hence it is eminent to explore new
strategies included mhealth and social media to bring in the behavior change in order to
improve vaccine uptake. In addition, it is also important to understand the perceptions and
barriers related to vaccine hesitancy and coverage during COVID 19 and come up with
strategies to finalize our interventions.
