Increasing COVID-19 vaccination uptake

In November 2023, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) published an updated Roadmap for prioritizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines. The Roadmap recommends a simplified schedule in the context of high population immunity from vaccination and/or infection, with a focus on high priority-use groups.

Based on the recommendations in the WHO SAGE Roadmap, this information note provides immunization programme managers and partners with:

1) Key messages to support public communications

2) Questions and answers on the updated SAGE recommendations, and

3) Programme considerations for increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

The suggested messages and interventions should be tailored to local contexts, taking into account programme considerations such as vaccine availability, service delivery platforms and resources, and the need for data-driven strategies for demand generation.

Use of terms. The updated Roadmap introduced the terms “initial doses” and “revaccination”, which can be used interchangeably with “primary series” and “booster doses”, respectively. The terms reflect today’s context in which most people have immunity from infection and/or vaccination.