The Challenge
The COVID-19 vaccination program must adopt an inclusive approach to ensure that vulnerable groups are equally protected —particularly persons with disabilities and the elderly. Traditional one-way communication has been ineffective, as many persons with disabilities remain hidden within families or are not officially registered. The spread of misinformation about vaccine safety further complicates outreach to these vulnarable groups. A new risk communication strategy which involving coordination with multi-stakeholder is essential to ensure equitable access for vaccination and build public trust.
Our Approach
– Conducted comprehensive stakeholder mapping to identify coalition partners across government, media, CSOs, and communities as agents of change
– Implemented risk communication training for media, with 55 participants to ensure science-based, culturally appropriate messaging
– Mobilized and orchestrated pentahelix partnership—media outlets, disability organizations, local government, private sector, and academics
– Embedded evaluation mechanisms to track both vaccination rates and sustainable system changes, across the target provinces
The Result
– The risk communication campaign has sucesfully supporting the 611 vaccinations, including 140 people with disabilities across 5 pilot in South Sulawesi
– The media coalition has generated 186 articles, reaching more than 5 million readers with positive vaccine messaging
– The South Sulawesi Provincial Government has adopted the inclusive vaccination guidelines as mandatory protocols for future needs
– The coalition model is being replicated and implemented across 24 districts in the 4 target provinces
