Trust in Vaccines Key to Effective Immunization: Study

APP

Peshawar: A recent study analyzing Pakistan’s COVID-19 response has identified public trust in vaccines as the cornerstone of a successful immunization strategy, emphasizing the critical need to bolster public confidence in both vaccines and the healthcare delivery system.

The study—conducted by Jhpiego, a global health organization, with support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI)—aims to consolidate best practices and lessons learned from the pandemic to strengthen routine immunization in the country.

Highlighting key insights, the study states that building trust through effective communication and reliable healthcare services is vital to achieving vaccine acceptance. A successful example cited is the rollout of the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) in Pakistan, which demonstrated how trust in systems can lead to high vaccine uptake.

“Building trust in vaccines requires a strong and reliable healthcare system that ensures transparency, accessibility, and accountability. When people trust the institutions responsible for immunization, they are more likely to accept vaccines without hesitation,” the study notes.

The research revealed that bottom-up approaches, although widely recommended in public health literature, are rarely practiced in reality. Policy decisions made without grassroots consultation, it warns, can become counterproductive.

The findings also highlight the importance of trust-building measures for the successful introduction of new vaccines in Pakistan, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer.

The study dissemination event was organized by Jhpiego, with Dr Shabana Saleem, Director General of the FDI, as chief guest. Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) Pakistan, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative, and other stakeholders also attended.

Presenting the findings, Dr Fahad Abbasi, Project Lead, said the COVID-19 pandemic was a defining moment for global public health, testing healthcare systems worldwide. “In Pakistan, the crisis presented immense challenges but also opened opportunities to strengthen immunization efforts, innovate, and enhance collaboration between government and partners,” he added.

The report, Pakistan’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Best Practices and Learnings, was developed under the CDS-III initiative, based on extensive desk reviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions at both federal and provincial levels.

Recommendations include:

• Political ownership and commitment to health at all levels for effective emergency responses.
• Sustained investment in immunization infrastructure to retain the gains achieved during the pandemic.
• Stronger inter-sectoral collaboration among the government, private sector, and community organizations.
• Integration of outbreak response into existing routine immunization (RI) systems.

A shift away from coercive vaccine policies towards voluntary participation and informed consent, promoting a rights-based approach to immunization.

In her address, Dr Shabana Saleem noted that the project’s findings would be instrumental in shaping future health policy, enhancing system preparedness, and ensuring no child is left behind in immunization efforts across Pakistan.

Dr Aminah Khan, Country Director of Jhpiego Pakistan, lauded her team’s work, saying, “The documented learnings from Pakistan’s COVID-19 response are not just valuable for policymaking but also for building a resilient healthcare system ready to tackle future emergencies.”