Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media Tip Sheets
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media Tip Sheets

Strategies for promoting the COVID-19 vaccine for children

Wednesday, October 6, 2021, By Lily Datz
Share
anti-vaccine rhetoricCOVID-19 vaccinehealth communicationnews media effectssocial marketing

When the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for kids ages 5-11, most vaccinated parents will get their children the shot. However, this will also be a prime opportunity for those who are anti-vaccine to ramp up their efforts to discredit the vaccine’s efficacy and spread misinformation, especially since much of the anti-vaccine rhetoric (along with anti-mask) has been about protecting children, according to Syracuse University assistant professor Rebecca Ortiz.

Ortiz, who studies and teaches about health communication strategies at the Newhouse School at SU, says that combatting this misinformation will continue to be an issue as the next round of vaccinations ramp up. However, Ortiz said there are some tactics that she learned while promoting the HPV vaccine to parents that can still be applied today for the COVID vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is a vaccine recommended for children ages 11 or 12, before a child is sexually active, as human papilloma viruses are sexually transmitted infections. Research has found that some parents are hesitant to get the vaccine for their children because they are concerned about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine — especially when it was still relatively new– or are concerned about the implications of giving their child a vaccine for sexually transmitted infections before they are sexually active, despite the fact that is exactly why it is recommended at ages 11 and 12.

“To improve vaccination, a great deal of focus was then placed on trying to correct those negative perceptions,” said Ortiz. “What eventually became clear however was that it wasn’t these perceptions alone that were holding back parents; it was that some physicians were not routinely recommending vaccination, arguably because they were not always well informed about the vaccine and underestimated parental acceptance and willingness,” said Ortiz.

“Physician recommendation is a key predictor of HPV vaccine uptake, and I would argue the same could be said for uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine by parents for their children,” said Ortiz. “If we want to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates, we cannot just focus efforts on combatting misinformation on social media; we must also equip physicians, specifically pediatricians, with the tools for communicating about the vaccine with hesitant parents. Children are often more likely than their parents to have regular wellness doctor visits and therefore these visits are prime opportunities for doctors to have conversations with parents about making the right choice about vaccination for their children.”

Ortiz conducts research at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with a focus in health communication, social marketing and entertainment and news media effects. She has managed and consulted on several health communication campaigns and research projects focused primarily on sexual health issues, such as sexual violence prevention.

To schedule an interview please reach out to Ellen James Mbuqe, director of media relations, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu, or 412-496-0551, or Matt Michael, media relations specialist, at 315-254-9037 or mmicha04@syr.edu.

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

Lily Datz

  • Rebecca Ortiz

  • Recent
  • University Hosts Syracuse Fire Department Graduation Ceremony
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022, By News Staff
  • Architecture Student Named Honors Thesis Prize Award Recipient
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022, By Julie Sharkey
  • Vice Admiral responds to Biden’s trip to Asia
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022, By Vanessa Marquette
  • Rockell Brown Burton Joins Newhouse School as Associate Dean of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
    Monday, May 23, 2022, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • Corinne Sartori Joins Libraries as Accessibility Specialist
    Monday, May 23, 2022, By Cristina Hatem

More In Media Tip Sheets

Vice Admiral responds to Biden’s trip to Asia

If you are looking for an expert in military and intelligence issues, please see comments from retired Vice Admiral Robert Murrett regarding President Biden’s trip to Asia and the mention of the “United States would intervene militarily if China attempts to…

Media Tip Sheet: Consequences of China Lockdown

As the intense lockdowns continue in China, one of our Syracuse University professors weighed in on possible consequences they may have on the economy. Dimitar Gueorguiev is an associate professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and…

Architecture Expert and Researcher of Abortion Clinics On the Future of Access

Last week, a draft decision for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was leaked from the Supreme Court and shows that five justices are preparing a judgment that would strike down Roe v. Wade. For reporters covering this ongoing story,…

“Inclusion Should Not Be an Afterthought”: Education and Legal Experts Weigh In on Plan to Update Federal Regulations

For the first time in 45 years, the U.S. Education Department is planning to update federal mandates for how schools and colleges must accommodate students with disabilities. The department is soliciting public comments about how current regulations can be improved…

Response to Putin’s Speech

As we heard earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had no choice but to invade Ukraine in his Victory Day speech (CNN). Syracuse University’s Mark Jacobson has responded to this speech (see below). Jacobson is the assistant dean of Washington programs…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2022 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.