Question

Describe 3 health behavior strategies and the corresponding theory of health behavior change for increasing the uptake of the potential COVID-19 vaccine.

Please be specific regarding which theory (or theories) you are using and the corresponding strategy. For example, using the Theory of Planned Behavior, you might focus on changing parental attitudes about getting the vaccine by creating an instagram posts/videos for parents that focus on the way they value their children's education. The video would demonstrate that by getting the vaccine, it will enable their child - and their child's friends - to be able to attend school in-person.

describe 3 behavior change strategies that encompass multiple levels including strategies that, 1) medical and other social service providers can use with individual patients/families to get them to get the vaccine and/or vaccinate their children; 2) social strategies, including strategies for changing social norms about the benefits of getting the vaccine, and 3) structural strategies including ease of obtaining the vaccine such as the availability, price, amount of time required, etc.

Answer 1

1. The social cognitive theory can be used by the medical and other social service providers with individual families and patients to increase vaccine uptake. It is common for the patients to accept the need of vaccination. Some people consider it unsafe and inappropriate to inject any type of foreign element in the body and this can certainly lead to vaccine failure. The strategy of increasing vaccine uptake by exposing people to previous experiences of vaccine denial and health decline can be effective for the patients. The social cognitive theory describes the impact of individual experiences, environmental factors and actions of other people which can certainly motivate the people to favor vaccination. It has been noticed that rates of Measles declined significantly after successful use and implementation of the vaccine. Informing the patients and their families about the success rates of different vaccines can certainly develop positive behavior regarding vaccines.

2. Vaccine refusal is a result of lack of confidence, inconvenience to reach proper services, complacency, and a rational calculation of both merits and demerits. Perceived risk of disease and calculating the vaccination to risk ration can socially impact the extent of vaccination. A social strategy that modifies the injunctive and descriptive norms of the society can certainly upregulate vaccine uptake. The health belief model can be used as a health behavior theory for increasing vaccine uptake and modifying the social norms of health-related behaviors. Using the strategy of persuasive and risk communication with the patients and the families can certainly help them analyze “what you should do” and “what others should do” in case of COVID-19 vaccine.

3.The COM-B model can be used as a behavior change theory to develop a successful structural behavior change strategy. The strategy can involve the components of behavior as a part of the interacting system involving the availability, amount of time required for action and price of the vaccine. COM-B stands for capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior as components of positive behavior change. The strategy of distributing narratives and holding campaigns including information about the vaccine prices, and time of action for the patients and their families can develop positive behavior change