The AU-3S programme is assisting countries to use the high profile of COVID-19 vaccines to raise general awareness of the Med Safety App. The aim is to ensure that it is well-utilised for electronic reporting for both medicines and vaccines. The programme has been working with national communication teams to support the development of communication plans and the production of content. There has been significant uptake of the Med Safety App due to COVID-19 need and the above-mentioned communication efforts. Since AU-3S commenced the pilot programme, there has been ~17,500 new users of the Med Safety App across all pilot countries. For the first half of 2021, there was a 900% average increase in monthly Med Safety App active users relative to 2020 across the pilot countries. In Nigeria, the Med Safety App is now the primary safety reporting tool of choice and the country is working towards a 90% target of all vaccine related national safety reports being submitted through the App (vs. other reporting channels).

The AU-3S team has produced the following teaser videos that countries can use, particularly on social media, to provide a short overview of the Med Safety App. These videos can be customised to specific country requirements such as NRA branding and/or translation needs. Non-customised versions of the videos, in English, are readily available for any country to use straight away. This video can be seen below:

The AU-3S team have also developed 2 longer more detailed videos which again can be used by countries as is or rebranded with the NRA logos or other county specific requirements. The first is for how to efficiently navigate the App and the second provides a demo of how to report an AEFI using the App:

In addition to these videos, the AU-3S programme has prepared a set of Med Safety App FAQs and an instructional guideline. This guideline provides step by step details on how a health care professional can report either an AEFI or an ADR. There is a slightly modified, less technical version for member of the public or patient use. Again these materials are available to any country who uses the Med Safety App and can be easily branded to NRA requirements.

AU-3S pilot countries launched successful promotion campaigns to encourage AEFI reporting through the Med Safety App. See highlights from select countries below:

Ghana:

• Ghana FDA Facebook video posts promoting the download and submission of side effects via the Med Safety App:

• February 2021 – Overview

• July 2021 – How to get the Med Safety App

• July 2021 – Safety Hero

• Ghana FDA use their LinkedIn page to help target promotion of materials to relevant industry groups or individuals

• Twitter thread from March 2021 for how to report COVID-19 vaccine side effects to Ghana FDA: https://twitter.com/fdaghana/status/1369637831786823682

Nigeria:

• Press articles from 2021 promoting use of Med Safety App for PV of COVID-19 vaccines and summarising related AEFI statistics:

• https://www.thecable.ng/you-can-report-adverse-effects-of-covid-19-vaccine-via-this-app

• https://www.sunnewsonline.com/covid-19-vaccine-one-death-recorded-due-to-wrong-drug-combination/

South Africa:

• SAHPRA created a dedicated microsite for the App: https://medsafety.sahpra.org.za/

• SAHPRA YouTube videos promoting the App: 

  • Med Safety App Promo Video

  • How to Use the Med Safety App

  • Navigation Video

  • National News Interview about the Med Safety App

  • SAHPRA Facebook post promoting the South African population to download and use the Med Safety App: https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=470660154011672

Press article covering how to use the Med Safety App: https://www.news24.com/health24/medical/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/app-allows-users-to-report-adverse-effects-from-medicines-including-covid-19-vaccines-20210422