Projekte

Kurzbeschreibung:

Projektziel

The aim of the project is to increase trust towards immunization including COVID-19 vaccination and preparedness for future epidemics/pandemics through the provision of high-quality vaccination services and strong community engagement efforts, focusing on the most vulnerable population in Armenia and Georgia. (Contribution to SDG 3, EU GAP III 3.3)

Erwartete Ergebnisse

1) Most vulnerable target population has equitable and gender sensitive access to approved, safe and effective immunization including COVID-19 vaccination focusing on remote areas in Georgia;

2) Reliable, accurate, gender-sensitive and evidence-based information on immunization including COVID-19 vaccination and epidemic control knowledge is delivered through appropriate communication channels in close coordination with public authorities to most vulnerable population in Armenia and Georgia.

Zielgruppe

Direct beneficiaries: 80.286 (55%f/45%m): 2500 people reached through transportation services in seven municipalities, 326 ARCS and GRCS staff and volunteers being trained, 77.460 people reached though targeted awareness raising activities.

Georgia: Project target locations are 6 regions in the West and East of Georgia supported through 12 branches: Shida Kartli region, Kvemo Kartli region and Mtskheta-Mtianeti region (9 branches) and Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Ambrolauri (3 branches). The focus on older people enrolled in Home Care programs will be in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Ambrolauri.

Armenia: Project target locations are all regions of Armenia including Yerevan supported through 12 branches, however the focus on older people enrolled in the Home Care Programs will be in following regions: Shirak, Lori, Vayots Dzor, Ararat, Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn.

Maßnahmen

Maintain and manage efficiently the mobile vaccination units in Georgia; Provide transportation services by two mobile units in remote areas of Kvemo Kartli region; Conduct perception study with focus on vulnerable groups (ethnic minorities, women and older people) in Armenia and Georgia; Re-train GRCS and ARCS volunteers on Covid-19, routine immunization, epidemic preparedness and risk communication; Revise, produce, translate and print information material on immunization including COVID-19 vaccination; Distribute trusted and reliable messages in Armenia and Georgia through public and social media, awareness raising and community mobilization events, info sessions on vaccination for older people in care programs; experience exchange and generation exchange sessions between older people and schools and universities in Armenia; Maintain regular working cooperation with respective decision makers, key stakeholders, and Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners through round table meetings.

Hintergrundinformation

Despite strong efforts of public health authorities and other relevant key stakeholders, the goal of 70% COVID-19 vaccination rate is by far not reached in Georgia and Armenia. The available supply of vaccines in the country exceeds the existing demand due to high level of vaccine hesitancy, which was found to be driven by multiple factors depending mostly on people’s location, age, cultural and religious beliefs. The dominating driver is found to be lack of trust in COVID-19 vaccines, which largely is caused by either lack of information or inaccurate information/misinformation from social influencers. Particularly among older people and ethnic minorities a clear gap in accurate information and accessibility to information was detected. It is notable that the coverage of routine immunization in target groups dropped during COVID-19 pandemic and needs to be addressed – and desirable rates of 95% should be reached. Therefore, more awareness raising is seen as necessary for different target groups and support the national health systems in Armenia and Georgia. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, preparedness and readiness for future epidemics is a core for better control of infections and overcoming health crisis. Thus, better preparedness for any epidemic/pandemic through increasing communities’ knowledge, is crucial.