How Nurses Are Moving the Needle on Vaccine Education

Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and anti-apartheid revolutionary and philanthropist, once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Clearly, then, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided the perfect opportunity to put those words into action. From the first efforts of scientists and physicians to learn about the SARS-CoV-2 virus to more recent studies related to variants, the more we can understand about COVID-19, the better prepared we will be to combat it now and in the future.?

For many of the trusted frontline workers we’ve relied on throughout the pandemic, a key component of their COVID-19 education has centered on vaccination: Who’s eligible? Should I get vaccinated, and should I recommend it for my patients, family members and friends?

That’s why I’m proud that Johnson & Johnson is supporting the “COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses” campaign, launched earlier this year by the American Nurses Association and 22 leading nurse organizations. The campaign makes science-based, culturally relevant vaccine information more accessible for nurses, helping equip them to make informed decisions for themselves and advise people in the diverse communities they serve. Through online resources, these important health care heroes can learn about vaccines via a unique initiative created by nurses, for nurses.

During National Immunization Awareness Month, observed annually in the United States each August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages, it’s encouraging to learn that efforts such as “COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses” are moving the needle in the right direction. In an October 2020 American Nurses Foundation (ANF) survey, only 34% of nurses reported they would get vaccinated if their employer did not require it. As of July 2021, just a few months following the launch of “COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses,” the percentage of nurses surveyed who are fully vaccinated or plan to be become vaccinated has jumped to 88%.

This is remarkable progress ― and because we know that nurses are so trusted in their communities, they can play an important role in transferring what they’ve learned from the campaign to the people they serve. And, the nursing organizations that participated in the campaign told us that this was indeed the case. The educational resources truly helped them make a difference in reducing some of the hesitancy among their fellow nurses and, in turn, armed them with the reliable information they needed to help educate others.

For campaign partner National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), driving the important Hispanic/Latinx perspective into conversations about vaccine data and access was a major impetus for the organization to get involved in the campaign. By working as part of this coalition of nurses, NAHN members are now better able to represent their community and its unique characteristics, including culture, beliefs and access concerns. As one NAHN member noted, the campaign is a “great source of information that supported my position as a nurse. It was helpful to have the information available in Spanish.”

As Dr. Lydia Albuquerque, DNP, APN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, president of another campaign partner, the National Association of Indian Nurses of America (NAINA), expressed, “COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses” is about rebuilding confidence among the 50,000 nurses of Indian descent in the U.S. that her organization represents. As a result, her constituents were educated, better informed and better able to impact the communities where they serve patients every day.

Clearly, the power of an army of dedicated nurses, equipped with trusted information and culturally relevant supportive resources, can be immense.

Where COVID-19 and vaccinations are concerned, education can indeed help change the world. I’m grateful for the nurses and all frontline health workers whose leadership and actions have been instrumental in helping to stem the virus.

?At Johnson & Johnson, we’re proud to continue to support efforts to empower nurses as vital leaders in protecting the health of our communities.