About the Immunization Learning Hub
The Learning Hub members aimed to develop and communicate robust, practical evidence on the under‐documented role of local faith communities (LFCs) for community systems strengthening. They drew together diverse materials (after assessment for quality and relevance) – particularly focused on lower and middle income country (LMIC) settings. Although given the lack of materials from LMIC settings, information from higher income settings is included where considered highly relevant.
The Immunization Learning Hub completed it’s work in 2014 led by Dr Jill Olivier.
Jill Olivier, University of Cape Town/IRHAP
What We Know
- History shows a number of intersection points between religion and immunization that extend further back than the recent surge of international interest
- There is a high level of interest in ‘missed populations and closed communities
- Considerations of context and complexity are important – especially working with local faith communities
- Getting to grip with the complex world of religion and vaccine resistance is key
- The need for interdisciplinary and multi‐sectoral and engagement on religion and immunization
- The need for cross‐over interdisciplinary studies and actions
- Working with local theologies is required
- The need for religiously‐competent program staff and health workers
- Engaging religious leaders in genuine social mobilization and advocacy
- Improving communication strategies (interpersonal, local, national and international) with and through LFCs should be considered
- Little evidence on the specific nature and extent of routine immunization services provided by faith‐based health providers
- Further investigation of ‘trust’ at all levels
Key Questions
- What evidence exists on religion and immunization, where is this situated, and how are related issues approached?
- What are the key evidence‐gaps in relation to engagement with local faith communities in relation to immunization?
- Is further joint‐learning useful on this specific issue, and who are the potential partners in such a process?
SPOTLIGHT
Past Hub Events
UNAIDS Webinar- Spirituality, Mental Heath and Resilience during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and HIV
2021-02-04
08:30:00
America/New_York
Disease Pandemics and Innovations in Care
2020-10-08
14:00:00
Europe/London
HIV Interfaith Conference: Resilience & Renewal: faith in the HIV response
2020-09-22
09:30:00
UTC
Faith-Sensitive Humanitarian Response Focus on MHPSS: Introducing a new online training tool webinar
2020-06-03
09:00:00
UTC-4
The COVID-19 Crisis: Adaptations and Tensions During the Month of Ramadan
2020-04-30
12:00:00
America/New_York
The COVID-19 Crisis: From Past Experience to Present Realities
2020-04-16
12:00:00
UTC
Faith and Family Planning: Working Together to Drive Progress Post-2020
2020-01-21
08:00:00
UTC
Keeping the Faith in the ICPD Nairobi ICPD 25 (International Conference on Population and Development )
2019-11-12
00:00:00
UTC
