July 2022 – In response to the barriers to demand, including distance and transport, service quality issues, financial deprivation, information gaps and vaccine hesitancy, UNICEF Kenya intensified its work on demand creation to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage and equity.

Against the barriers, UNICEF SBC-supported demand creation work involves:

● Digital RCCE stakeholder mapping and Digital Vaccine stakeholder mapping;

● Media and social advocacy;

● Rumour tracking and response;

● Financing to remove local bottlenecks (access, quality of service and county coordination).

UNICEF Kenya also makes use of innovations in data-driven targeting of demand creation activity:

• Health worker Training – Module was updated with the latest vaccine myths and rumours followed by key messages to debunk the misconceptions;

• Information, Education and Communication (IEC) – New set of materials and radio spots will be created with the demographic information on the confident enthusiast and enthusiastic pragmatists;

• Evidence-based Micro-planning – Technical support to the counties (Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) managers, EPI coordinators and Health Promotion officers);

• Bringing vaccines to Where People Are – School-based vaccination, mobilization of religious leaders and vaccination at places of worship.

Demand creation will continue to be a focus. Using innovative systematic approaches is essential to UNICEF’s work during the next strategic period.