MSU Extension Vaccine Education

The Michigan Vaccine Project or MVP is entering its last year of funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quarterly data reporting and bi-annual narrative reporting were submitted at the beginning of July 2023. The outcomes speak to the success of MVP’s efforts to provide statewide vaccine awareness and education to Michigan residents, particularly those in rural areas and youth. MVP continues to collaborate with Extension staff and over 34 partners to accomplish this important public health outreach.

Youth Outcomes

MVP provides awareness and education to rural youth using two overarching strategies. MVP educators and program instructors develop and provide programming and participate in community events focusing on a youth audience. Secondly, a team of MVP 4-H Community Health Ambassadors have been trained and develop materials and communications by youth for youth. Highlights from the mid-year report include:

• Using “What is A Pathogen,” MVP reached over 460 participants teaching about zoonotic disease pathogens and how they relate to viruses and vaccinations, including COVID-19. This program was delivered at the Lansing Potter Park Zoo, Eaton Regional Education Service Agency, animal science classes and after-school programs. This program was also delivered to youth ambassadors at the 4-H Community Health Ambassador Workshop, a Baby-Sitting Workshop in Crawford County, and a Branch County Summer Camp. 
• MiCareerQuest in Lansing was attended by over 2,000 youth, and MVP shared educational information about health careers and vaccination information. Youth Ambassadors created a PSA for youth participants to record during the event.
• The Germ-O-Scope was developed to teach youth how the natural immune system and vaccines work together to rid the body of germs and help protect us from infections. The Germ-O-Scope is currently being showcased at community events.
• MVP and the Youth Ambassador team continue to partner with Detroit Public Television/Michigan Learning Channel, creating 11 public broadcast messages with 17,485 impressions/views.
• MVP staff and Youth Ambassadors presented, “Youth Leveraging Their Voice to Influence Rural Audiences Regarding Vaccine Education” at the University of Michigan’s 2023 Conference on Adolescent Health, reaching over 200 youth participants.
• At 4-H county fairs, MVP provided hand-washing stations, experience with the Germ-O-Scope, and disseminated 1,762 pieces of vaccine information to rural youth.
• MVP staff and Youth Ambassadors participated in three MVP sessions at Exploration Days, teaching A Virus Among Us, Pathways to Protection: The World of Public Health and a Polio Relay Race.

Adult Outcomes

MVP also provides awareness and education to rural adults. MVP staff provide programming, participate in community events, discuss vaccine information at length with individual community members, and disseminate evidence-based information on the COVID-19 vaccines/boosters and general vaccine information.

• MVP Health and Nutrition Institute staff reached 83 rural adults at community presentations in local organizations and participated in 27 indirect activities by disseminating vaccine information at community events.
• MVP Health and Nutrition Institute staff traveled to Beaver Island to present vaccine education to its rural residents. Staff and residents shared their experiences in this video, with future social media projects and articles to follow in the near future.
• Community partners primarily include rural audiences from senior centers, Veteran groups, libraries, neighborhood food pantries, and food distribution centers.
• Monthly MVP webinars reach rural adult audiences and may focus on specific immunization topics or general vaccine awareness and education. These webinars are moderated Q&A sessions with healthcare experts and recorded for later viewing. May’s webinar focused on vaccines while pregnant and breastfeeding, and June’s webinar focused on routine vaccinations for summer safety. The July 17 webinar addressed common vaccine concerns, questions, and myths.

Media Campaign

In addition to webinars primarily targeting adults, MVP has statewide and social media reach through podcasts, Extension articles, newspapers, radio and social media channels (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Spotify, and Twitter).

• Popular educational articles published on the website included: “Disability Network West Michigan Discusses Vaccination Within the Disability Community”, “Immunization records at your fingertips with the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR)”, “The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency”, and “The importance of Women’s Health Month”, “Portage pharmacist shares his vaccine experience” and “Kalamazoo area restaurant owner shares his vaccine experience.”
• Digital marketing campaign advertisements reached 848,535 people and generated 5,676 engagements and 709 clicks.
• MVP staff provided eight radio interviews throughout the past six months with WBTV AM Branch County radio stations. Interviews reached an estimated 9,000 listeners each time. Michigan Public Radio spots promoting the MVP reached 356,900 listeners, and 1,697,869 residents were reached with MVP radio ads throughout the state.
• A newspaper ad in six different print publications reaches 180,000 people per month.
• The MVP PSA featuring an interview with Valerie Pfander, Nurse Practitioner, reached approximately 59,000 people.
• MVP PSA featuring an interview with Susan Pell, Registered Nurse, reached 461,111 listeners in Southeast Michigan.
• Three podcasts were posted this reporting period: An Interview with Restaurant Owner Jim Chiang of Texas Corners, MI; A Conversation with Disability Network West Michigan Part 1; and A Conversation with Disability Network West Michigan Part 2.

If you would like to learn more, explore Michigan State University Extension’s partnership with the Michigan Vaccine Project to find links to event schedules, podcasts, publications, webinars, and videos relating to vaccine education at https://www.canr.msu.edu/vaccineeducation/.