19 April 2021, Geneva, Switzerland – 111 senior business executives from AB InBev’s corporate affairs teams across the world joined the inaugural presentation of the Toolkit 2.0 “Designing and implementing campaigns in support of vaccination efforts to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19: Strategies for Companies” on 15 April 2021 at 9:00 EST.

One of the great challenges we face today is linked to the development of effective communication strategies that promote the adoption of protective behaviors to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccination.

This Toolkit presented by UNITAR and developed in collaboration with the University of Brighton and the International Social Marketing Association aims to provide a guidance on developing effective communication strategies focused on promoting protective behavior and maximum uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. It highlights the role of individual behaviors and social norms in vaccination and protective efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Companies around the world want and can make a contribution to help reduce the impact of the pandemic by working collaboratively with local, national and international public health organizations. Furthermore, the toolkit presented sets out how companies can work in partnership with local government stakeholders to develop effective COVID-19 communication strategies focused on promoting protective behavior and maximum uptake of the new COVID-19 vaccines that are now coming on stream.

There are many assets that companies have and can use to help control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce its impact. Companies’ assets can include:

• People and skills (i.e marketing expertise)
• Knowledge of the communities they service
• Brands and the trust people have in them
• Facilities (i.e. warehouses, call centers, etc.)
• Networks and value-chain partners
• Logistics and cold capabilities
• Consumer and public reach
• Ability to provide useful products and services
• Events and sponsorships
• Technology and data
• Media investments
• Funding capabilities

During this inaugural presentation, practical examples of actions companies like Ab InBev and other global companies in the United States and Colombia have taken, as well as initiatives that can be implemented to help reduce the impact of this virus on the population, working collaboratively with local, national and international public health organizations, while leveraging their own assets.

Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about this Toolkit: vaccination@unitar.org