Communication Interventions and Assessment of Drivers for Hendra Virus Vaccination Uptake.
Abstract: Hendra virus disease (HeVD) is an emerging zoonosis in Australia, resulting from the transmission of Hendra virus (HeV) to horses from Pteropus bats. Vaccine uptake for horses is low despite the high case fatality rate of HeVD in both horses and people. We reviewed evidence-based communication interventions to promote and improve HeV vaccine uptake for horses by horse owners and conducted a preliminary evaluation of potential drivers for HeV vaccine uptake using the Behavioural and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BeSD) framework developed by the World Health Organization. Six records were eligible for review following a comprehensive search and review strategy of peer-reviewed literature, but evidence-based communication interventions to promote and improve HeV vaccine uptake for horses were lacking. An evaluation of potential drivers for HeV vaccine uptake using the BeSD framework indicated that horse owners' perceptions, beliefs, social processes, and practical issues are similar to those experienced by parents making decisions about childhood vaccines, although the overall motivation to vaccinate is lower amongst horse owners. Some aspects of HeV vaccine uptake are not accounted for in the BeSD framework (for example, alternative mitigation strategies such as covered feeding stations or the zoonotic risk of HeV). Overall, problems associated with HeV vaccine uptake appear well-documented. We, therefore, propose to move from a problems-focused to a solutions-focused approach to reduce the risk of HeV for humans and horses. Following our findings, we suggest that the BeSD framework could be modified and used to develop and evaluate communication interventions to promote and improve HeV vaccine uptake by horse owners, which could have a global application to promote vaccine uptake for other zoonotic diseases in animals, such as rabies.
Publication Date: 2023-05-04 PubMed ID: 37243040PubMed Central: PMC10221404DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050936Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article focuses on the issue of low Hendra virus (HeV) vaccine uptake for horses in Australia, despite the risk and severity of the disease. The researchers reviewed potential communication interventions to enhance vaccine uptake and also analyzed possible factors influencing vaccine acceptance using the Behavioural and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BeSD) model by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Review of Communication Interventions
- The article starts with a review of evidence-based communication strategies that could possibly aid in improving the uptake of the HeV vaccine by horse owners. The researchers conducted a comprehensive search and review of peer-reviewed literature, only finding six records eligible for their study.
- Despite their efforts, the researchers did not find any existing evidence-based communication interventions specifically designed to enhance HeV vaccination uptake for horses, indicating a knowledge gap in this area.
Understanding Drivers for HeV Vaccine Uptake
- The researchers also used the BeSD model by the WHO to analyze potential factors that could be enhancing or hindering HeV vaccine uptake. This involved evaluating the role of horse owners’ perceptions, beliefs, social processes, and practical concerns in their vaccination decisions.
- The findings indicated that the motivations relevant to horse owners mirrored those experienced by parents making decisions about childhood vaccines. However, the overall willingness to vaccinate was lower among horse owners. This could indicate either a lower perceived risk in the horse-owning community or the presence of other influencing factors not captured by the BeSD framework.
Proposed Application of BeSD Framework
- Taking inspiration from their findings, the researchers suggested that the BeSD model be modified to account for unique factors relevant to animal owners, such as alternative mitigation strategies and understanding the zoonotic risk of viruses like HeV.
- The aim is to use this modified framework to develop more targeted communication interventions, which could be effective in encouraging vaccine uptake among horse owners specifically and potentially other animal owners globally.
Shifting Focus from Problems to Solutions
- Finally, the researchers argue for a shift from identifying problems to a solutions-oriented approach to enhance HeV vaccine uptake. This would involve employing the insights derived from the modified BeSD model to develop proactive strategies and interventions.
- The proposed solutions-focused approach and model not only hold the potential to decrease the risk of HeV among humans and horses in Australia, but could also serve as a global model to be used for increasing vaccine uptake for other zoonotic diseases in the animal realm, such as rabies.
Cite This Article
APA
Kropich-Grant JN, Wiley KE, Manyweathers J, Thompson KR, Brookes VJ.
(2023).
Communication Interventions and Assessment of Drivers for Hendra Virus Vaccination Uptake.
Vaccines (Basel), 11(5).
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11050936 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia.
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia.
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga 2678, Australia.
- College of Health, Medicine and Well-Being, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia.
- Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend 2287, Australia.
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia.
Grant Funding
- 2008650 / the National Health and Medical Research Council
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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