Assessing Community and Social Media Influence to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake among Youth in Soweto, South Africa (The Bambisana Study): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Pretest-Posttest Intervention Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Seasonal influenza has an estimated global reach of 3-5 million infections, with 290,000-650,000 influenza-related deaths yearly. Despite its efficacy in reducing morbidity and mortality, influenza vaccination rates remain low globally and in South Africa. Youth between the ages of 18 and 34 years are not prioritized for influenza vaccines although influenza surveillance in South Africa shows that individuals aged 19-44 years present the highest asymptomatic episodes and the lowest medically attended illness. This creates an opportunity to investigate if and how vaccine demand can be created in the absence of clear imperatives to vaccinate. The study tests the effectiveness of tailored, context-specific education, and community engagement, including community and social

SUBMITTER: Dietrich J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12214695 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature