Project Vaccine
Town Hall Report Just 10 months after vaccine development began, the FDA issued its first COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA). With this profound moment came both relief and uncertainty. In response, the Museum of Science, Boston hosted four Town Hall events to convene members of the public and experts from academic, industry, government, and community-based organizations. These events allowed attendees to hear and share community concerns, questions, proposed solutions, and current science, while providing space for attendees to carefully consider the vaccination decisions ahead.
TIMELINE SNAPSHOT BY THE NUMBERS
4
Live Town Halls
900
live virtual attendees
Over 5000
asynchronous viewers
Town Hall 1
Town Hall 2
Town Hall 3
Town Hall 4
Exploring Public Confidence in the COVID Vaccination
Rolling Out the Vaccine
Recruiting for Clinical Trials
1•26•21
2•23•21
What Does the Future Hold? 3•23•21
12•14•20 December 2020
January 2021
February
March
April
Emergency Use Authorization
Emergency Use Authorization
Emergency Use Authorization
Pfizer Vaccine
Moderna Vaccine
Janssen Vaccine
12•11•20
12•18•20
2•27•21
Who attended these virtual Town Hall events? Characteristics of attendees shared some similarities—and some differences—with prior in-person Forum events hosted by science centers across the U.S. that also addressed societal and ethical topics (e.g., Climate Change).1
Why collect demographic information? These data help us know more about who was interested in learning about vaccination decisions (such as women and older adults in this case), and where we might need to focus future efforts to broaden participation at these events.
1. Todd et al., 2019
Participant demographics Geographic reach The following attendee characteristics are based on survey results from a sample of 155 Town Hall attendees, compared to audiences who attended similar public forums in-person at science centers around the US.
93% NEW ENGLAND
WHITE
Project Vaccine Town Halls Race/ Ethnicity Science Center Public
ASIAN BLACK HISPANIC
75% 60%
Forums
10% 6% 6% 8%
11%
8% 6% 6% OTHER MULTIPLE
WOMEN
Gender
Project Vaccine Town Halls
71%
Science Center Public Forums
60%
MEN 29% 38% “I don’t identify as either”
Age
18–24 YRS
25–44 YRS
Project Vaccine Town Halls
14%
Science Center Public Forums
15%
45–64 YRS
65+ YRS
44% 38%
41% 32%
16%
How did these events impact attendees? Provided expert insight
OF ALL ATTENDEES
These events were produced to share expert insights on the scientific, societal, and ethical considerations that go into decision-making around developing, distributing, and accessing these new vaccines.
94 % agreed that these virtual Town Halls can be a useful tool for
Invited discussions
OF ALL ATTENDEES
These events also included small-group discussions, inviting attendees to share their own perspectives with each other.
discussing societal and ethical topics related to science.
76% felt more informed about how COVID-19 vaccination decisions were made after attending the events.
“
This series provided the community with important information that provided clarity in a very difficult and confusing time.”
87% found these discussions valuable. 87% felt comfortable sharing their own views. 80% learned about viewpoints different from their own
“
Great forum, great presenters—not only does this reach such a wide variety of citizens but it’s so good to hear everyone’s opinions.”
How else is the Museum addressing this topic? Attendee input guided improvements for each successive Town Hall, informed the development of online resources, and supported the creation of exhibits, which are currently under development.
Exhibits and online resources under development will Explore the people and processes behind COVID-19 vaccine development
Introduce the systems and people involved in distributing vaccines
Examine the science behind vaccine development including the COVID-19 vaccines
Consider the diverse perspectives involved in vaccination decisions
Investigate some of the dynamics of contagious disease spread and control.
Visit the Museum in late summer 2021 and see the Project Vaccine exhibit. Stay tuned to the Museum’s Project Vaccine site for more online resources.
FAQs and Additional Resources In gathering questions at event registration, during discussions, and in follow-up surveys, we heard our Town Hall attendees’ concerns and uncertainties about accessing and receiving vaccinations, as well as questions about life beyond COVID-19.
Attendees’ FAQs What is the science behind these vaccines? How were these vaccines developed and tested? How does each vaccine work in the body? What are the side effects and efficacy rates?
Who is included in the vaccine development process, and how can we better support those who are not? How should pregnant and nursing women, children,
the immunocompromised, and others left out of vaccine trials make vaccination decisions?
MOS Resources See our infographic on vaccine types. Explore our Project Vaccine YouTube Playlist for more information about vaccine types, herd immunity, and more.
Other Helpful Links Visit the FDA’s overview of COVID vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Watch the Town Hall on Public Confidence in the COVID Vaccine
See the CDC’s research on health equity and COVID-19.
Learn more about what our diverse communities think about the vaccine
Talk with your health provider about your personal vaccination decisions.
See our infographic about clinical trials.
Visit the CDC website to learn more, and to find vaccination sites near you.
How can vaccine developers and others in the
medical community continue to build trust with those historically harmed by medical research and practice?
How do I participate? How do I sign up to be vaccinated, and why were
there so many roadblocks early on?
Review the World Health Organization’s advice for the public.
How can I participate in a clinical trial? How can I help share accurate information?
When will we return to normal? How might certain restrictions and behaviors change
once more people get vaccinated? What is it safe for me to do once I’m fully vaccinated? When will we reach herd immunity?
Where do we go from here? What will a new normal look like post-vaccine? Will we need booster or seasonal shots against
variants? How might scientific breakthroughs developed
through this pandemic—such as use of mRNA vaccines—impact future disease control and healthcare outcomes?
Watch the Town Hall on Clinical Trials Visit the Museum in late Summer 2021 to see the Project Vaccine exhibit, and stay tuned to the Museum’s Project Vaccine site for more online resources. Watch the Town Hall on What the Future Holds
Review the CDC’s information about what you can do once you are vaccinated.
Learn from research conducted by the Greater Good Science Center about potential consequences of the pandemic.
Town Hall Collaborators & Recordings DECEMBER 14TH TOWN HALL
JANUARY 26TH TOWN HALL
Exploring Public Confidence in the COVID Vaccination
Rolling out the Vaccine
Michael Curry, Esq.
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers
Charles Anderson, MD, MPH, MBA
Rena Conti, PhD
President and CEO, Dimock Center
PhD, Associate Research Director of Biopharma & Public Policy for the BU Institute for Health System Innovation & Policy
Claude Jacob, DrPH(c), MPH,
Steve Koczela Mass Inc. Polling Group
Galit Alter, PhD
Chief Public Health Officer, Cambridge Health Alliance
Moderated by Angus Chen Health & Science Reporter at WBUR
Moderated by Tim Ritchie President of the Museum of Science, Boston MARCH 23RD TOWN HALL FEBRUARY 23RD TOWN HALL
Recruiting for Clinical Trials Dan Barouch, M.D., Ph.D. Director at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Nineequa Blanding, MPH Vice President, Health Resources in Action
Monica Webb Hooper, PhD Deputy Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Moderated by Emily Hostetler Museum of Science, Boston
What Does the Future Hold? Marisol Amaya-Aluigi, MPH Executive Director La Alianza Hispana
Casey Baines Senior Policy & Communication Manager, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Larry Madoff, MD Medical Director, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Moderated by Sabrina Sholts Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
More information on COVID-19 vaccines and other updates Museum of Science, Boston: Coronavirus Information and Resources Centers for Disease Control: COVID-19 Information Food and Drug Administration: COVID-19 Vaccines World Health Organization
Support provided by the
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson