Local faith actors are generally recognized for their role in influencing health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including immunization uptake, coverage, and equity. Despite this, gaps remain in understanding how faith actors influence immunization uptake and coverage and what interventions help to reduce vaccine hesitancy among local faith actors. Vaccine hesitancy among faith communities is believed to undermine immunization coverage in some LMICs. The rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations adds urgency to the need to engage religious leaders and other local faith actors in what will be the
largest public health vaccination campaign in 100 years. This brief summarizes findings from a June 2021 global landscape analysis, Effects of Faith Actor Engagement in the Uptake and Coverage of Immunization in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, and highlights opportunities to engage local faith actors in boosting immunization uptake and reducing vaccine hesitancy.