Tanzania experienced slow turn out when it started rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in July 2022. For the first 10 months, the country vaccination stood at only 6.7 percent of the total population. Rukwa region was among the lowest performing regions, having vaccinated 9.7% of its targeted population until the first week of July 2022. WHO Country Office worked closely with the Ministry of Health and the regional and district health management teams in Rukwa to implement a regional campaign using COVID-19 Vaccine Champions. The campaign aimed at catalyzing vaccination against COVID-19 through intensified community mobilization and taking vaccines to households, public gatherings and events.
© Mkama Mwijarubi/WHO Tanzania
From fear to acceptance
© Mkama Mwijarubi/WHO Tanzania
By definition, a COVID-19 champion was someone influential in a community - a community leader, a faith leader, a popular artist, a community group leader or a traditional leader. Magreth Nandi was among champions selected by her community in Rukwa. One morning in the third week of July 2022, she and the health facility’s vaccinator took the vaccine cool box and a safe box and walked into the village. Their first encounter was a group of youth who were making bricks.
© Mkama Mwijarubi/WHO Tanzania
Face to face interaction helped to answer questions and clear doubts. The champion and vaccinator worked together to build community trust on vaccine safety and benefits.
© Mkama Mwijarubi/WHO Tanzania
Lazaro Saise, 22, (in cap) and his friends are running their lives through making mud bricks. None of them had not been vaccinated, despite having heard about vaccination since July 2021. It took Nandi and the vaccinators nearly 40 minutes to talk with the group. Before consenting, they confronted her with arguments, ranging from not perceiving any risk, rumors they have heard and fear of the injection. Magreth Nandi, won the battle as all five friends accepted to be vaccinated after realizing how at risk they are to the disease because of the nature of their work. “Fear of a syringe and what will happen after I vaccinate had made me not want to hear about this vaccine, but because today all my questions have been answered and doubts cleared, I’m ready,” said Lazaro while preparing his left arm for a the jab.
© Mkama Mwijarubi/WHO Tanzania
Individuals and families were receptive of the Champions because they know and trust them. Following this campaign Rukwa’s coverage of COVID-19 vaccination has leaped from 9.7% to 18% in just three weeks. The leap in four weeks outmatched the achievement for 11 months prior the campaign.
