Training for Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV)
introduction
Module 7
Communicating with caregivers
about IPV and multiple injections
Learning objectives
 At the end of the module, the participant will:
– Be familiar with ways and techniques of communicating with
caregivers
– Know the benefits of IPV and its importance to polio eradication,
multiple injections, and routine immunization
– Understand the safety of IPV when administered with other vaccines
 Duration
– 40 minutes
Note: This module should be covered with a related UNICEF Curriculum on
Interpersonal Communication (IPC; 2h minimum), available here from Oct. 2014:
http://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/poliomyelitis/inactivated_polio_vaccine/en/
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Key issues
1
Health workers need to provide
information to caregivers, listen to
their concerns and be prepared to
politely answer their questions.
2
Health workers should use simple
words and avoid technical terms
with caregivers.
3
A strong health worker
recommendation for IPV and
multiple injections is essential to
increase caregiver acceptance.
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The importance of communicating effectively
with caregivers about IPV and other vaccines
Health workers play important roles in parent and
caregiver accepting vaccinations for their children.
Caregivers may not understand why their child needs an additional
vaccine for polio and may be concerned about receiving multiple
injections on the same visit.
By listening patiently, understanding, encouraging and communicating
effectively with caregivers, health workers can ensure that children
receive vaccines and return for future vaccinations.
For more information related to the importance of interpersonal
communication, refer to page 25 of the IPC Curriculum
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How to communicate with caregivers?
 Be respectful and compassionate
 Provide reassurance
 Use simple words and avoid technical terms
 Listen to caregiver's concerns
 Make sure the caregiver has understood your key messages
For information on the GATHER approach (Greet, Ask,Tell, Help, Explain,
Return), and using it to improve quality of outreach visits, refer to pages 26-27
of the IPC Curriculum
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How to communicate with caregivers?
 Be respectful and compassionate
•
•
•
•
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Be warm and welcoming
Show respect
Smile
Praise them for bringing their child for
immunizations and encourage them to continue
bringing their child until fully vaccinated.
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How to communicate with caregivers?
 Provide reassurance
– Explain to parents and caregivers that IPV is
important and safe.
– Reassure them that multiple injections are safe.
– Remind them that it is better for the child to
experience one, brief moment of discomfort than
pain on two separate days.
– Reinforce the importance of immunization overall
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How to communicate with caregivers?
 Use simple words and avoid technical terms
– Keep your messages simple and clear. Avoid using
medical words
– Use words in a local language that caregivers can
understand
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How to communicate with caregivers?
 Listen to the caregiver's concerns
– Allow the caregivers to talk, encourage them to ask
questions
– Give them your full attention
– Listen to their concerns and respond to them politely.
Correct any misconceptions they may have
– Keep your body language positive
– If you do not know the response to any question, tell the
caregiver(s) that you will return with the correct information
the next time you see them at the facility or outreach
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How to communicate with caregivers?
 Make sure the caregiver has understood your
key messages
– Explain and check for understanding – ask questions
to find out if the caregiver understood you
– Remind the caregiver to bring the child for the future
vaccinations as per the schedule
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Health Workers need to be prepared to
inform parents/caregivers about:




Benefits and safety of IPV
Benefits of continued use of OPV for polio eradication
Missed/upcoming vaccines in the schedule
The importance of bringing their vaccine card to every
session
If applicable:
 Benefits and safety of multiple injections
 Questions about pain from multiple injections
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Benefits of IPV
It is important to emphasize to caregivers the
importance of combining IPV and OPV. IPV and OPV
each play different roles in making the child stronger –
they each cause a different kind of immune reaction.
Combining these vaccines protects children even more
and gives them the benefit of both vaccines.
For more information on the benefits of IPV and OPV, refer to page 35-36
of the IPV Curriculum.
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How to explain the benefits of IPV
Health workers can tell parents and caregivers:
“Combining IPV and OPV provides stronger protection against
polio. The dose of IPV will help protect your children against polio
disease even more – and will give your child the benefits of both
vaccines.”
“IPV strengthens immunity in the blood, while OPV strengthens
immunity in the gut”
“Using both vaccines together provides the best form of protection
from polio – it protects your child and helps protect our
community.”
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How should you respond to typical
questions from caregivers?
?
Why does my child
need two different
vaccines for polio?
For more examples of questions, refer to Session
3.2 of page 22 of the IPV Curriculum.
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Safety of IPV
 IPV has been used in over 60 countries worldwide, over
decades
 IPV is a very safe vaccine, whether used alone or in
combination vaccines
 No serious side effects have been reported, only minor
side effects
 Minor local reactions may occur following IPV, as can
sometimes happen with other vaccines. But a child will
recover
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How should you respond to typical
questions from caregivers?
?
Does IPV have any
side effects?
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Talking to caregivers about the
safety of IPV
Health workers can tell parents and caregivers:
“IPV is a very safe vaccine.”
“After the vaccine, there might be a little bit of
redness and the skin may feel tender.”
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If applicable:
Talking about the benefits of multiple injections
Parents/caregivers may have concerns about their child
receiving three vaccines at one visit. Health workers can
address this by saying:
“Giving a child several vaccinations during the same visit allows
your child to be immunized as soon as possible. They are
protected against multiple diseases during the most
vulnerable early months of life.”
“In addition, giving multiple vaccinations at one time means fewer
vaccination visits for parents and caregivers.”
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Talking to caregivers about the
safety of multiple injections
Inform parents and caregivers that:
“It is safe for your child to receive multiple injections at once.
In many countries, children receive more than one vaccine
injection in one visit.”
“Early vaccinations mean early protection for the child”
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How should you respond to typical
questions from caregivers?
?
Is it safe to give
multiple vaccine
injections at one visit?
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Talking to parents about the pain
associated with multiple injections
 Health workers should acknowledge that children will likely
experience slightly more pain or discomfort when there are
multiple injections.
 However, they should remind parents that having to return for
additional vaccines forces the child to experience pain on two
visits.
 Address concerns about pain by saying: “It is better for the
child to experience one, brief moment of discomfort than pain
on two separate days.”
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How should you respond to typical
questions from caregivers?
?
Will my child
experience more pain
or discomfort?
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Things to remember:
key messages
 Vaccinations are important for the overall health of the child
 IPV and OPV together provides stronger protection against polio.
 Even after the child receives IPV, caregivers should continue to accept OPV
whenever it is offered.
 IPV is safe and effective
 It is safe to give multiple vaccine injections in one visit. In many countries, children
receive more than three vaccines in one visit.
 It is better for the child to experience one brief moment of discomfort from multiple
vaccines, than pain on two separate days/visits.
 By listening patiently, understanding, encouraging and communicating
effectively with caregivers, health workers can ensure that children receive
vaccines and return for future vaccinations.
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End of module
Thank you
for your attention!
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