Building vaccine confidence, protecting futures: Atlantic Fellows advancing immunization equity

This World Immunization Week (24–30 April), we are reminded that immunization is not just a cornerstone of public health - it is a powerful equalizer. Vaccines save millions of lives each year, yet far too many communities around the world still lack equitable access to them. At the Atlantic Fellows, our global community of leaders is working to change that.

Whether through policy, health systems, behavioral science, or community engagement, our Fellows are advancing vaccine equity in transformative ways that are grounded in local realities. As the World Health Organization calls for action under this year’s theme—“Humanly Possible,” we spotlight two Atlantic Fellows driving change in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nigeria.

Lao PDR: Building national systems and public trust

In the past five years, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has immunized more than half a million  girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), a major step forward in preventing cervical cancer and advancing gender equity in health. Since the vaccine’s introduction in 2020, the Ministry of Health — supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and key partners — has worked to ensure the smooth and sustained delivery of HPV vaccination through school-based outreach and community engagement.

Souliya Channavong, an Atlantic Fellow plays an integral role in supporting the Ministry of Health’s efforts. As a WHO technical officer, she has provided ongoing support to the National Immunization Programme (NIP), including assistance with planning, coordination, training of health workers and monitoring of vaccination activities. Her contributions have been vital in building local capacity and ensuring that immunization services effectively reach adolescent girls country-wide..

In addition to operational support, WHO has worked closely with national stakeholders to promote public awareness and trust in the HPV vaccine. Their social media campaigns — particularly on Facebook — share culturally appropriate information with caregivers, educators and young people. These efforts help strengthen public confidence in immunization and contribute to the overall success of the programme.

Nigeria: Driving HPV vaccine uptake through social innovation

In Nigeria, the VITAL (Vaccination Initiative Targeting Adolescent Lives) project — part of the VaxSocial initiative—underlines the theme of World Immunization Week, proving that immunization for all is not just possible: it is happening. Atlantic Fellow Ifeanyi Nsofor leads as the project director of VITAL, driving action where it matters most —among caregivers of nine-year-old girls.

VITAL is a consortium of four organizations — Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative, Wellahealth, Upswell, and the Behavioral Insights Lab. Each organization brings a unique strength to the partnership, combining grassroots outreach, pharmacy engagement, digital strategy, and behavioral science to drive HPV vaccine uptake. VITAL combines behavioral insights, social media targeting, pharmacy engagement, and policy advocacy to support HPV vaccination. The focus is on improving caregivers’ motivation and ability to vaccinate their nine-year-old daughters. 

In the first phase , their campaign reached over 4 million people across Facebook and Instagram, using social media influencers and community pharmacists like Felix as hyper-local influencers. Caregivers respond more positively to real pharmacists, finding them relatable and trustworthy. A key feature was an interactive map that helped 215,000 caregivers find nearby primary health centers — at just $0.05 per click. Community pharmacists engaged nearly 8,000 caregivers directly, while community outreach sites recorded the highest vaccination rates.. 

Ifeanyi said “As we prepare to launch the second phase, these early wins affirm that when we meet caregivers where they are — online, in pharmacies, or in their communities—immunization truly becomes possible for all.”

VITAL is one of six projects under the VaxSocial initiative, which is funded by Advancing Health Online (a fiscally sponsored project of Global Impact) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Initiative is focused on demonstrating how social media can help build vaccine confidence and is currently being implemented across India, Indonesia, and Nigeria.