CHILD rights group Save the Children launched on Wednesday a handbook that aims to address Covid19 vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos.

The group teamed up with two behavioral science research firms — Busara Center for Behavioral Economics and Common Thread — to find out why Filipinos have shied away from getting Covid19 vaccines.

The Philippines has recorded more than 55,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic but only 56 percent of the population is vaccinated.

The partnership led to the creation of “Little Jab Book Philippines,” the first practical guide aimed at fighting Covid19 vaccine hesitancy using behavioral science.

The handbook provides practical and adaptable solutions to help health workers, government authorities and non-government organizations increase vaccine uptake.

It also includes engaging young people to take an active role on social media platforms to help dispel vaccine-related “fake news,” running ad campaigns with positive testimonials of those who have been vaccinated, and making vaccine registration as easy as possible.

“We know that ensuring more than 80 percent of the population gets vaccinated is one of the best measures to protect Filipinos from the ongoing pandemic. Trust in vaccination will also help ensure that vulnerable children get their protection from Covid19 and other deadly vaccine-preventable diseases,” Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer Albert Muyot said.

“But an increased supply of Covid19 vaccines hasn’t necessarily translated into more jabs in arms. In fact, our research shows that particular barriers in the Philippines stop many from getting their Covid19 vaccine, even if they know it’s the best tool in fighting the virus. That’s where the ‘Little Jab Book’ comes in—providing concrete and practical solutions to getting as many Filipinos vaccinated as possible, so that our health services can get back to delivering other life-saving services interrupted by the pandemic—including routine child immunizations,” he added.

Meanwhile, Allison Zelkowitz, director of Save the Children’s Centre for Utilizing Behavioral Insights for Children, said that Covid19 has strained health services and devastated economies around the world, and has had far-reaching impacts, including on life-saving child immunization programs.

“With vaccines now more widely available, we need to identify and understand what stops people from getting vaccinated and engage with that in a practical way. If we don’t understand why they’re hesitant—whether that’s because of inconvenience, specific doubts, or a lack of important endorsements—the vaccines may not reach enough people. If uptake isn’t as good as it needs to be, children and families will continue to suffer,” Zelkowitz said.

“We need to support effective roll out campaigns, and the ‘Little Jab Book Philippines’— with its invaluable insights rooted in behavioral science—is an essential tool in making this happen,” she added.