Risk communication is a key component of emergency response that all countries should have in order to better respond to health threats. It is one of the eight core capacities under the International Health Regulations (IHR) - a legal framework designed to help countries prevent and respond to public health risks.

Building on previous risk communications work by TEPHINET, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other partners, TEPHINET developed a series of microlearning videos to provide “quick learns” for those wanting to better understand and use effective risk communication principles and best practices in their daily work. These videos were developed to address the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on COVID-19 vaccines and risk communication.

Target Audience

Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) residents, staff, and alumni, Ministry of Health staff who perform risk communication tasks in their work, and other public health or healthcare practitioners who work with epidemiologists on mutual risk communication tasks.                                                                                                     

Language

English with English subtitles. Plans to add closed captioning in other languages.

Structure and Timing

This self-paced video series consists of two modules with 7 or 8 videos each. All videos are between 2-8 minutes long. The entire series can be completed in one sitting (estimated time to complete is 1 hour and 20 minutes), or each module can be completed separately within a time frame that is suitable to the learner. The modules were designed to be completed in sequence. However, each video can also be completed individually whenever the learner wants to learn about a particular topic in the moment, while out in the field or preparing for related work activities.

Module 1: Communicating about COVID-19 Vaccine Benefits & Safety
Know how to communicate clearly and effectively about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Use sound communication principles to develop messages and materials designed to increase public or patient understanding of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Module 2: Risk Communication Principles and COVID-19 Vaccine Misconceptions and Misinformation
Describe key communication guidelines that should be used to develop COVID-19 vaccination education campaigns, including how to proactively address misconceptions and misinformation.

Topics

Module 1:

1. Overview: Communicating about the Covid-19 Vaccine Safety (and Benefits)
2. What is Risk Communication
3. Health Risk = Hazard + Outrage
4. Factors Impacting Risk Perception & Communication
5. Key Audience Considerations Before Communicating
6. Best Practices for Developing Messaging for Your Audience
7. Wrap Up: Communicating about the Covid-19 Vaccine Safety (and Benefits)

Module 2:

1. Overview: Risk Communication Principles and COVID-19 -Vaccine Misconceptions and Misinformation
2. What is Misinformation
3. Why is Misinformation a Problem
4. Identifying Misinformation
5. Barriers to Misinformation Correction
6. What Do You Do if Misinformation is Spread
7. A Practical Example of Correcting Misinformation
8. Wrap Up: Risk Communication Principles and COVID-19 -Vaccine Misconceptions and Misinformation

For more information about this and other resources in the TEPHINET Learning Center, please contact TEPHINET Learning at learning@tephinet.org.

This video series was supported by Cooperative Agreement number NU2GGH001873 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, The Task Force for Global Health, Inc. or TEPHINET.