nOPV2 Introduction Communications Toolkit

"The success of polio vaccination activities hinges on a complex network of vaccination enablers and caregiver influencers, including national stakeholders and policymakers, media, social influencers, health professionals, frontline workers, and caregivers."

This toolkit is designed to help communications teams in novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) rollout countries build communications strategies and materials to engage audiences and support a successful introduction of nOPV2.

As explained by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), "To better address the risk of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2), GPEI partners are working closely with countries to deploy an additional innovative tool – novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). The vaccine is a modified version of type 2 monovalent OPV (mOPV2). Clinical trials have shown that nOPV2 provides comparable protection against poliovirus while being more genetically stable and less likely to be associated with the emergence of cVDPV2 in low immunity settings. This means that nOPV2 has the potential to be a significant new tool to help stop outbreaks in a more sustainable way." This resource was developed to help communicate with a range of audiences about the introduction of nOPV2. 

The toolkit consists of the following chapters: 

nOPV2 Audiences - This chapter looks at the audiences that programmes are talking to about nOPV2. The toolkit distinguishes between nOPV2 Proactive Audiences and nOPV2 Reactive Audiences. Proactive Audiences are those that will receive information about nOPV2 without prompt or request, such as programme ambassadors, frontline health workers (FLWs), health professionals, social mobilisers, and social influencers. nOPV2 Reactive Audiences will receive standard polio messaging, and nOPV2 messaging will only be shared upon request. Reactive Audiences include mainly caregivers.

nOPV2 Positioning - This section of the toolkit looks at how programmes talk about nOPV2 to different audiences and provides global positioning options for nOPV2 communications across the two audience categories. Positioning is an internal tool to help select and prioritise messages about nOPV2, and it should be reviewed and adapted to reflect the local communications context. Positioning options are included for two nOPV2 launch scenarios:
 

• Standard Scenario: Audiences are aware that polio is a risk.
• Afro-Certification Scenario: Audiences may believe polio has been eradicated. There is confusion about the types or presence of polio among the key audiences. 
   

nOPV2 Launch Plan - This section of the toolkit provides potential channels, messages, and considerations across the key communications moments of an audience's journey from awareness of nOPV2 to support and use of nOPV2. Communication launch plans are provided for both the nOPV2 Proactive Audience and the nOPV2 Reactive Audience. 

nOPV2 Key Messaging - This chapter contains key messages for use when communicating with audiences in a communication for development (C4D) context about the launch of nOPV2 at each phase of the launch plan. Messages are included for the two nOPV2 launch scenarios, as well as for Proactive and Reactive Audiences within each launch scenario.