Strategy
To strengthen vaccine literacy across Virginia, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) partnered with ImmunizeVA (a statewide coalition of immunization stakeholders) to implement targeted educational initiatives aimed at increasing vaccine confidence.
Challenge
Vaccine confidence remains a critical public health challenge, often undermined by misinformation, distrust, and cultural barriers – particularly in underserved communities. Many people rely on community spaces such as libraries, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based centers for trusted information. However, these institutions often lack specialized resources needed to address vaccine-related questions in a neutral, fact-based manner.
Solution
To bridge this gap, VDH developed a Vaccine Literacy Toolkit specifically designed for libraries and community hubs. The toolkit offers fact sheets, FAQs, conversation guides, and programming ideas tailored to the needs of librarians and community leaders, empowering them to share clear, evidence-based vaccine information without requiring them to become experts. Additionally, VDH and ImmunizeVA developed a curated reading list of engaging, age-appropriate vaccine resources that have been added to library collections and shared at community events like health fairs and baby showers, creating natural opportunities for learning and conversation. Each title was vetted for scientific accuracy, accessibility, tone, and cultural relevance, with a focus on storytelling, historical context, and public health messaging. Prioritized books reflected a wide range of experiences and perspectives, used respectful and thoughtful language, and were backed by professional reviews and educational recommendations to ensure credibility across all age groups. VDH and ImmunizeVA leveraged libraries and community information hubs, to provide trusted, accessible resources, including the Vaccine Literacy Toolkit and a curated reading list of vaccine-related literature, to empower individuals and families in making informed immunization decisions.
Outcome
The collaboration between the state immunization coalition and community hub significantly expanded access to trusted vaccine education, equipping libraries and organizations with the Vaccine Literacy Toolkit and curated reading materials. As of February 2025, the initiative with ImmunizeVA has facilitated numerous community discussions, distributed over 100 books at libraries and health events, and empowered staff to confidently address vaccine-related questions. VDH continues to review and expand the amount of reading materials available to the community. By embedding accurate, accessible information in everyday spaces, they have been able to strengthen vaccine confidence and support communities in making informed decisions.
Supplemental Materials
