Home / Health / Manitoba Tackles Measles with Town Halls
Manitoba Tackles Measles with Town Halls
1 Jun
Summary
- Manitoba is calling rural residents for measles vaccination town halls.
- Public health experts will answer trusted questions in a forum.
- Expert urges non-judgmental, transparent conversations for trust.
Manitoba is intensifying its campaign to promote measles vaccinations, focusing on rural areas experiencing the highest concentration of cases. The province is organizing telephone town halls, specifically targeting the Southern Health region, to enable direct engagement between residents and public health experts.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara stated the forum is designed to address questions residents may have hesitated to ask, offering trustworthy information. This outreach follows a successful approach used during the COVID-19 pandemic, involving public health leaders and politicians.
Dr. Melissa MacKay, a public health communications expert, highlighted that successful vaccination strategies require genuine, non-judgmental, and transparent two-way conversations to build trust. She suggested that while immediate vaccination might not occur, these interactions can encourage further information seeking.
Manitoba's advertising campaign, launched on March 30 and costing $185,000, uses billboards, signs, social media, print, and radio with the tagline, "Measles is on the rise in Manitoba. You can help stop it." However, Dr. MacKay questioned the effectiveness of this "one-size-fits-all" approach and advocated for tailored messages acknowledging vaccine concerns and engaging community leaders.
Direct outreach, including bulletins and collaboration with healthcare providers, is also part of Manitoba's strategy. The province has previously set up vaccine booths at events like the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. The current advertising campaign is scheduled to end mid-June, with ongoing evaluation of communication strategies.
