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Promote the importance of immunizations with this communications toolkit This toolkit was created to promote the importance of immunizations during National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), which occurs every August. We encourage you to use the valuable resources in this toolkit throughout the year. The 2018 edition of the toolkit contains key messages, vaccine information, sample news releases and articles, sample social media messages, links to web resources from CDC and other organizations, and logos, web banners, posters and graphics to use with social media. It also includes a media outreach toolkit and a place for you to share your NIAM activities and view what other are doing for NIAM. (#NIAM18) Use the toolkit to design your own promotions. Mix and match, copy or adapt the contents to fit the particular news and issues of your own organization or community - and share your NIAM activities to inspire others. For more information, please contact Tom Schafer at tschafer@nphic.org The National Public Health Information Coalition is the premier network of public health communicators in the United States and U.S. territories. They are committed to "making public health public" by sharing our knowledge, expertise and resources to effectively communicate about the important health issues of the day.

This document provides guidance on the essential elements of an immunization communications plan, with special emphasis on elements that relate to crisis communication. Developing an immunization communications and crisis communications plan allows you to build and maintain trust in vaccines and demand for vaccination and prepare for vaccine safety events and crises.

This document proposes a simple step-wise process for planning communication and advocacy for a new vaccine introduction. It includes suggested activities for four key stakeholder groups: health care workers influencers media public. Planning a detailed communication and advocacy strategy will help you: ensure stakeholder groups have a consistent knowledge of the facts and messages avoid or limit misperceptions be prepared for vaccine safety events facilitate high uptake of the new vaccine build resilience against vaccine safety scares. Use the document for guidance and inspiration when introducing a new vaccine. Use it early in the process, as communication needs to be planned and initiated well in advance of the introduction date.

The CDC Clear Communication Index (Index) is a research-based tool to help you develop and assess public communication materials. The Index has 4 introductory questions and 20 scored items drawn from scientific literature in communication and related disciplines. The items represent the most important characteristics that enhance and aid people's understanding of information.

Setting the media agenda Safety events: the immediate media response Tips for spokespersons The questions journalists always ask in a crisis Strategies used by journalists How to prepare a press release

An example of how to write a communication plan and prepare a crisis communication plan for the introduction of a new vaccine.