No 'jabs' flu vaccination approach paying off

Otago research and enterprise deputy vice-chancellor Prof Richard Blaikie receives his flu...
Otago research and enterprise deputy vice-chancellor Prof Richard Blaikie receives his flu vaccination from Andrea McMillan, the university's head of health and safety compliance. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Avoiding talk of ''jabs'' and ''shots'' in the staff influenza vaccination campaign at the University of Otago seems to be paying off.

The university adopted a new approach this year to try to avoid using language that evoked unpleasant associations.

So far, in the two days the vaccine has been offered, both set records for uptake. Yesterday 692 staff members received the vaccine.

Microbiology researchers had been involved in promoting the programme for the first time.

Virologist Dr Matloob Husain said the success of any campaign rested on education.

''There is a lot of misinformation out there about vaccines and vaccination.''

Promotional material focused on answering simple questions about the vaccine, and did not include certain words or show pictures of needles.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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