The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative

After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Immunisation Education and Communication at CDC’s National Immunisation Programme

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Summary



Immunization Education at NIP





Immunization Information and Education Goals


  • Fast, accurate responses to immunization-related questions, issues, and concerns
  • A portfolio of resources, including updates, spokespeople, fact sheets, and 'question & answer' documents
  • Application of communications research to obtain timely input and feedback on messages and materials
  • Development and use of multiple channels for disseminating messages and materials



NIP's Education Activities


  • Responding to information and education needs
  • Learning from Health Care Providers and Consumers
  • Developing messages and materials
  • Distributing message and materials
  • Media-based information campaigns
  • Partnerships and collaborations



Responding to the Immunization Education Needs of Health Care Providers, Parents, and the Public


  • Focus group discussion
  • Message and materials testing
  • Feedback from parents and the public
  • Physician surveys
  • Parent surveys



Research Methods





Communications 'Products'


  • 'Announcements' (e.g., related to MMWR's)
  • Updates, fact sheets, and question-and-answer documents (hard copy and web-based)
  • NIP Website and subsites
  • Information Kits (e.g., adult immunization)
  • Annual Spanish-language public information campaign, including radio and TV PSAs
  • A portfolio of short brochures (on topics from vaccine safety to registries)
  • Computer-based (i.e., 'Immunization') multimedia presentations on immunization and vaccine



Messages and Materials Dissemination


  • Electronically via e-mail and listservs
  • NIP, CDC, and other government websites
  • State and local immunization programmes
  • NIP exhibit / National Immunization Conference
  • Partner organisations (e.g., National Partnership for Immunization, Immunization Action Coalition)
  • Media outreach
  • Donated media time/space
  • News services (e.g., NewsUSA)
  • Satellite training courses



Media-based Campaigns


  • Annual Spanish-language infant and childhood immunization campaign
  • National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) (April)
  • Adult influenza and pneumococcal immunization (October-December)
  • National Immunization Awareness Month (August)



Partnerships & Collaborations


  • State and local immunization programmes (e.g., National Infant Immunization Week)
  • Immunization Action Coalition
  • National Partnership for Immunization
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Medical Association
  • American Nurses Association
  • Association of State and Territorial Health Officers
  • And many others



Three Broad Audiences for NIP's Communication Efforts



  • Parents
  • Health Care Professionals
  • The 'Public'



And many segments within these broad categories...


Parent segments include:





Health Care Professionals segments include:





'The Public' segments include:





A Consistent Approach to Vaccine Communications


NIP's Communication Planning





Immunization Education