Virtual Poster: Lights, Camera, Vaccination! a Primary Care Office and a School District's Career and Technical Education Program Partner to Create Vaccine Educational Materials

Background: This project was a partnership between the staff of a Primary Care office and a School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) program with digital media, graphic arts and health related technology tracks to produce digital and print media specific for childhood vaccine education. This media will be used at the Primary Care office to promote, educate and address vaccine hesitance in patients and families.
The project addressed 2 objectives. Heightened vaccine hesitancy has alarmed the pediatric health care providers and motivated the primary care office staff to seek ways to improve vaccine education. The CDC’s guidelines for promoting a vaccine culture encourages all providers to clearly state and communicate the office philosophy regarding vaccination. Creating a short video with the office staff giving an evidenced based vaccine message promoted by the CDC achieved this important objective.
The second objective focused on increasing high school student’s engagement and connectiveness to their school and community. The pandemic had devastated the educational experiences of thousands of students. As teachers sought ways to engage students despite the myriad of distractions, creative activities that allowed them to use and develop skills were welcomed and necessary experiences. The CTE faculty saw this project is a viable means of empowering students during the pandemic. By increasing the student engagement and connectiveness to school and community this project had the protective mental health benefit for dozens of CTE students.

Methods: The students and faculty participating in the project received 2 educational presentations by the primary care office staff; vaccine basics and evidenced based strategies on how to respond to vaccine hesitancy. They applied their knowledge to produce materials promoting vaccines for infants and adolescents in their own community. Primary care staff mentored the students regarding content of these materials.

Results: 20 students participated in the creation on 1 video and 7 posters.
The video featuring 4 pediatricians and one nurse providing positive vaccine messages will be used in the office lobby to inform approximately 100 families per day, 4 best posters will be displayed throughout the office.
The faculty of the digital media, graphic arts and health related technologies reported this real-world learning project, truly excited and engaged the students and built on their skillset. Because this project was centered on vaccine education during a time of intense vaccine discussion in the public and social media, these students were able to channel their academic, social and technical skills in an amazingly productive way during a worldwide pandemic.

Conclusion: Pediatric health care providers partnering with high school students in Career and Technical Education programs can inform and amplify vaccine messaging in a primary care office, at the same time provide mutual inspiration and meaningful connections to school and the community.