After completing this course, you will be equipped to understand the essential aspects of:

•   Vaccine science and research 
•   Access to vaccines 
•   The logistics of vaccine manufacture, distribution, and delivery  
•   The behavioral complexities of vaccine uptake 

 You will also practice how to: 

• Unpack vaccine science for readers in simple and accurate language  
• Help audiences grasp vaccine information easily
• Present logical narratives on vaccine access using evidence and reasoning 
• Reason through counter claims and other evidence  
• Engage in informed debate and 
• Develop a network of trusted sources and authentic voices on vaccines
• Adhere to ethical and professional standards for covering vaccines and vaccination.

How the course is organized

There are five modules that offer a wealth of information, explainers, and exercises to help you become comfortable with answering essential questions about COVID-19 vaccines for your audiences.

Module 1: Vaccine Science and Research

We delve into vaccine history and look at exploratory and preclinical research before moving into vaccine types and endpoints. We also look at human clinical trial phases and their data and explore how journalists follow the vaccine story in the short and long term.

Module 2: Vaccine Access

What is vaccine nationalism? Which groups of people are likely to get the vaccines first and why? What principles need to govern access to vaccines? 

Module 3: Vaccine Logistics

How are vaccines made and distributed? What goes into vaccine packing, shipping, and storage? How will the vaccines be delivered to communities? 

Module 4: Vaccine Confidence

Where did vaccine hesitancy start? Why do people refuse vaccines? What is the impact of anti-vax campaigns? How can the media correct myths and misperceptions about vaccines? Best practices for ethical reporting on vaccination.

Module 5: Vaccine Information Sources and Resources

Who are credible sources for stories on vaccines? How to develop sources. How to keep sources and get them to contact you and come back to you? What are the challenges in sourcing vaccine information? What and where are the most reliable vaccine resources useful for journalists?