Vaccine Education, For and With Youth
FunDoo’s learning module, co-created with young people, aims to address vaccine misinformation around the world
Around the world, 1 in 5 children are missing out entirely or partially on routine immunization, leaving them unprotected and vulnerable to diseases. Limited access to healthcare services, conflicts, displacements, and vaccine misinformation and hesitancy are some of the barriers children face to living healthier lives.
Children and young people are susceptible to false or misleading information on health and vaccines. FunDoo, UNICEF's digital learning tool, in collaboration with eight young leaders in India, has built a new learning module to equip young people worldwide with the skills and knowledge they need to promote vaccine acceptance in their communities and address misinformation.
With over 1 million adolescents users in 14 countries, FunDoo equips young people with 21st-century skills and knowledge to prepare them for their future. It’s a low-tech and low-bandwidth solution that works in areas of low or unstable internet connectivity, making it free and easily accessible.
The new learning module will deliver bite-sized tasks that take 30 to 45 minutes to complete, each one focusing on a range of subject areas, including “How do diseases spread?”, “How does our body battle diseases?”, "What is a vaccine?”, “The science behind vaccines”, and many more.
To ensure the learning experience is engaging and impactful, the new module uses interactive storytelling, games, challenges, and rewards to convey reliable, up-to-date, and easily digestible information on vaccine safety, risks and threats associated with vaccine-preventable diseases, and the importance of timely vaccination in saving lives.
"The story in 'Task 1: How Diseases Spread' helped make the concept more relatable and engaging for us."
Manisha Kadam, 19, India.
“By exploring the learning tool and implementing their new skills, young people can create awareness and encourage pro-vaccination behavior among peers, families and caregivers in their communities."
Fatuma Namukose, Programme Specialist, UNICEF Uganda
The development of the new FunDoo immunization module was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of UNICEF's Office of Innovation, Social Behaviour and Change, and Health teams under the Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equite (CanGIVE), which seeks to enhance vaccine distribution, strengthen health systems, and expand regional vaccine production capabilities.
To navigate the new immunization tasks and experience how young people are shaping a safer future for all, send "FunVax" on FunDoo's global channel here.
