Policy Brief on Engaging Faith Actors to Boost Immunization Uptake and Address Vaccine Hesitancy

This policy brief supported by the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership was released in July 2021 and summarizes evidence about vaccine hesitancy trends in faith communities. It is a special investigation including key informant interviews with global leaders and a literature review into the role of faith actors on immunization uptake with emphasis on USAID priority countries for maternal, newborn, and child health and family planning/reproductive health. The report explores common themes in vaccine hesitancy relating to faith. The evidence concludes that vaccine hesitancy among faith communities threatens routine immunization coverage but also demonstrates the potential of engaging faith actors as partners to increase vaccine uptake