Community Health Workers (CHWs)
Supporting CHWs in Vaccine Education and Access
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted messengers who play a vital role in helping individuals and families make informed health decisions. Whether you’re answering questions, addressing concerns, connecting people to care, or sharing reliable vaccine information, having access to trusted resources is essential.
To support your work, WhyImmunize.org has developed tools and training designed specifically for Community Health Workers. These resources can help you build confidence in vaccine conversations, provide accurate information, and connect community members to immunization services and support.
Why Vaccinations Matter
Vaccinations are one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent serious diseases. They help protect not only the individuals who receive them, but also infants, children, family members, and others who may be more vulnerable to illness.
By staying up to date on recommended vaccinations, Community Health Workers contribute to:
- A healthier and safer learning environment
- Reduced risk of disease outbreaks
- Protection for children who may be too young or unable to be vaccinated
- Improved community health through collective immunity
Together, we can help create a healthy and supportive environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.
Vaccine Toolkit –
Our Vaccination Toolkit for Community Health Workers was created to provide trusted, easy-to-use vaccine information all in one place. The toolkit includes practical resources to help CHWs:
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- Understand vaccine basics and how vaccines work
- Address common vaccine questions and concerns
- Navigate conversations about vaccine confidence
- Share culturally responsive and community-focused information
- Access vaccination schedules and immunization recommendations
- Connect individuals and families to vaccination services
- Find printable handouts and educational materials
The toolkit serves as a quick-reference resource that can be used during client interactions, community outreach events, and health education activities.
Vaccine Training
Our self-guided Community Health Worker Vaccine Training provides foundational knowledge and practical communication strategies to support vaccine conversations in communities.
Training topics include:
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- Understanding recommended immunization schedules
- How vaccines work and protect against disease
- Vaccine safety and common myths
- Information about vaccines and autism
- Effective communication and listening strategies
- Addressing common vaccine concerns with empathy and respect
- Using stories and personal experiences to build trust
- Advocacy and community engagement
- Using the CHW Vaccination Toolkit in daily practice
The training is designed to help Community Health Workers feel more comfortable responding to questions while using evidence-based information and trusted resources.
Access the Community Health Worker Training PDF’s:
Vaccine Recommendations
Staying up to date on current vaccine recommendations helps ensure that children, adolescents, adults, and pregnant individuals receive the protection they need. Key messages to remember:
- Vaccines are available.
- Vaccines are no-cost for most families.
- The science supporting vaccination has not changed.
- Vaccine-preventable diseases still exist and can cause serious illness.
Below we have the updated child schedule and a flyer that explains the basic science behind how vaccines work. We encourage CHWs to utlize any materials that help you and your clients better understand the importance of vaccines. Please feel free to review current immunization schedules and share them with community members when appropriate.
Click here to download our family friendly immunization schedule for all ages.
Recursos adicionales
WhyImmunize.org offers a variety of resources that Community Health Workers can use to support individuals and families, including:
Other great resources for Community Health Workers include:
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- Vaccinate Your Family
- Childrens Hospital of Philadephia Vaccines Parent Pack
These tools can help strengthen vaccine conversations and support informed decision-making across Arizona communities.
Thank You for Your Work
Community Health Workers are essential partners in improving health outcomes and increasing access to reliable health information. Thank you for serving as a trusted source of support, education, and connection in your community.
Together, we can help individuals and families stay informed, protected, and healthy.
Need additional support or resources? Contact the WhyImmunize.org team for assistance at tapiadmin@tapi.org.