COVID-19 Public Health Communications Resource Hub
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the National Public Health Information Coalition, and CDC are collaborating on a multi-year project to strengthen communication and messaging during public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. This online repository is a collection of resources, products, and event recordings from this project to support state and local public health agencies with actionable data that communicators and health officials can use to enhance communication efforts.
Resources
Building Trust Going Forward: COVID and Beyond
Moving Into the Future
The Harvard Opinion Research Program, in collaboration with ASTHO and NPHIC, conducted surveys to understand public views on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The third and final survey, conducted between November 10-20, 2023, among 1,632 U.S. adults, provides key implications for state, territorial, and local health departments. The results can be used to shape communications and outreach, providing a foundation for overarching strategy and messaging across various activities.
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Evolving View of Vaccination: COVID-19, Flu, and RSV
The Harvard Opinion Research Program, in collaboration with ASTHO and NPHIC, is conducting a series of surveys to study how the public's perspectives on COVID-19 and infectious diseases are changing. They aim to provide strong evidence that can support the development of a comprehensive strategy and messaging for various activities. This memo presents some findings from the second nationwide survey conducted from July 7 to 16, 2023, among 1,430 U.S. adults. The results offer insights that can guide state, territorial, and local health departments in shaping their communication and outreach efforts.
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COVID-19 Protective Behaviors: Now and in the Future
In partnership with ASTHO and NPHIC, The Harvard Opinion Research Program is conducting a series of surveys to understand the public's evolving views of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. This memo showcases select results from the first nationally representative survey, conducted February 15 to March 6, 2023, among 1,936 U.S. adults. Key implications for state, territorial, and local health departments were developed from the results and can be used to shape communications and outreach.
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Improving Public Health Through Data and Communication
This video focuses on the effective use of data in public health communication. The panelists in the piece have shared their communication experiences, successes, and challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as lessons learned and best practices for communicating complex public health topics.
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Building Trust Going Forward: Boosters and Beyond Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results that examines the role of trust in adopting COVID-19 boosters as well as the way trust during COVID-19 may impact perceptions on other infectious diseases. Data is from a survey conducted October 17-November 1, 2022 (N=1,406) and highlights public receptiveness to childhood vaccination and other protective behaviors for other infectious disease outbreaks.
Learn MoreSeasonal Flu Vaccination and COVID-19 Boosters (2022)
Episode 249: New Flu Vaccine Polling
In this newscast, Gillian K. SteelFisher, PhD, MSc, Director of Global Polling for the Harvard Opinion Research Program, reflects on her latest survey gauging public reaction to seasonal flu vaccines.
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Enhancing Trust in Public Health: COVID-19 Boosters and Seasonal Flu Vaccination Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results about the public perception related to COVID boosters and the upcoming flu season. Data is from a survey conducted July 6-16, 2022 (N=1,564) and highlights results that examines the way vaccination efforts may be both affected by trust and be designed to enhance trust.
Learn MoreEnhancing Trust: When COVID-19 Recommendations Changes (2022)
Communicating Through Crises: Advice from a Public Health Leader
In this question-and-answer style blog post, Karen Smith, MD, MPH, former State Health Official for California, discusses her experiences and perspectives as a public health leader on communicating policy or recommendation changes during evolving public health emergencies or threats.
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Enhancing Trust in Public Health: When Recommendations Change Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results about public perceptions on changes in public health recommendations including masking. Data is from a survey conducted March 31 – April 12, 2022 (N=2,821) and highlights results surrounding trust in public health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
Learn MoreRebuilding Trust in Public Health (2022)
Episode 169: Listening Builds Public Health Trust
In this newscast, Angela Minicuci, the former Communications Director for the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services during the Flint water crisis, tells us why listening is so important.
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Episode 159: Do People Trust Public Health?
In this newscast, Gillian K. SteelFisher, PhD, MSc, Deputy Director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program, says a recent poll finds most U.S. adults think public health agencies are important to their communities.
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Enhancing Trust in Public Health: Quick Results From a Foundational Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results about the public perception of public health broadly as well as their views related to COVID specifically. Data is from a survey conducted February 1-22, 2022 (N=4,208) and highlights public perceptions and trust in information at all levels.
Learn MoreCOVID-19 Back to School Messaging (2021)
Episode 5: Back to School Mask Messaging
In this newscast, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer Marcus Plescia, MD discusses back-to-school mask messaging and Gillian K. SteelFisher, PhD, MSc of the Harvard Opinion Research Program offers help to public health teams communicating mask and vaccine requirements in schools.
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Back to School: Parent Views of COVID Protection Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results about parent views of school-based protections. Data is from a survey conducted July 14-26, 2021 (N=815) and highlights results specifically among parents with a child aged 5-17 who will be in school in-person at least part-time during the upcoming school year.
Learn MoreTravel During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2021)
Travel in the Summer of 2021: Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Perspectives Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results about travel plans of US adults for the summer of 2021.Data is from a survey conducted April 24 – May 4, 2021 (N=2,801) and highlights views among vaccinated and unvaccinated adults.
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Experiences and Views of Domestic Summer Travelers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From a National Survey
This journal article provides an evidence base for communication efforts, experiences, and views of travelers during the summer of 2020. It was examined through a telephone survey of 1,968 US adults, conducted in English and Spanish, July 2 through July 16, 2020. Findings are summarized in this journal article.
Learn MoreMask Wearing and COVID-19 Vaccination (2021)
Preventive Behaviors in the Evolving COVID-19 Context: A Tracking Survey for Communication Strategy: Wave III Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases select results about vaccination utilizing data from three waves of public opinion surveys. Data is from a survey conducted June 11-21 (N=2,638) and highlights evidence that can guide public communication strategy to enhance trust.
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Mask Wearing and Vaccination: Wave II Survey Brief
This survey brief showcases results about mask-wearing and vaccination in the evolving COVID-19 context. Data is from a survey conducted March 25 – April 6, 2021 (N=2001) and highlights views of U.S. citizens on their behaviors toward mask-wearing and COVID-19 vaccines.
Learn MoreEvent Recordings: Ask the Experts Series
Cultivating Gen Z as Partners for Healthier Communities: Part 2
This webinar details the importance of public health messaging, social media, outreach and engagement and data; provides tips and advice for creating new or updating existing crisis communications plans; and shares information on tools and resources to assist public health leaders and health communicators in combating misinformation and disinformation.
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Reaching Gen Z: Engaging Young Audiences in Public Health
This webinar details the importance of public health messaging, social media, outreach and engagement, and data; provides tips and advice for creating new or updating existing crisis communications plans; and shares information on tools and resources to assist public health leaders and health communicators in combating misinformation and disinformation.
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Ask the Experts: A Conversation on Data, Communication, and Health Equity
Panelists Wayne A. I. Frederick, MD, President, Howard University, LaQuandra S. Nesbit, MD, MPH, Director, D.C. Department of Health, and Gillian K. SteelFisher, PhD, MSc, Director, Harvard Opinion Research Program explore the role that data can play in elevating public messaging, as well as offer insights into how to take a data-first approach to tell a story that resonates with diverse audiences.
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Ask the Experts: Making Sense of COVID-19 Vaccine Polling Results
Gillian K. SteelFisher, PhD, MSc shares a meta-analysis of the many COVID-19 vaccine-related public polls and how public health can use this information to guide vaccine messaging. Neetu Abad, PhD, co-lead of the CDC Vaccine Confidence team, discusses behavioral drivers of hesitancy and how CDC uses that knowledge to craft outreach materials.
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