The Vaccine Champion Intervention improves HPV vaccination by training healthcare systems’ own staff to lead communication workshops. Champions use the Announcement Approach Training (AAT) and other QI resources to increase coverage and sustain improvements.
Vaccine champions can be found throughout healthcare systems and often include clinical staff with a range of training. Advanced Practice Providers, nurses and Medical Assistants, as well as QI staff and physicians, can be very effective champions and can represent the staff and patients of the clinics they work with.
Vaccine champions can be found throughout healthcare systems and often include clinical staff with a range of training. Advanced Practice Providers, nurses and Medical Assistants, as well as QI staff and physicians, can be very effective champions and can represent the staff and patients of the clinics they work with.
When looking for vaccine champions in your healthcare system, focus on staff who:
Laying the groundwork for success by working with system leaders and creating the conditions for champions to feel supported, confident, and ready to lead the intervention.
Recruit healthcare systems through professional networks and adolescent vaccination events, using the project one-pager and pitch slide deck
Secure buy-in from system leaders with the project pitch deck
Recruit clinics to participate in AAT workshops, with support from QI and health system leaders
Schedule workshops at times convenient for clinical staff
Invite staff using the calendar template, staff email template, and AAT workshop flyer
Champions lead AAT workshops with the support of provided slides, script, handouts, and a training assistant
Conduct pre- and post-workshop evaluations so staff can claim continuing education credit (optional MOC project credit may also apply)
Vaccine champions are busy professionals who juggle many competing demands in the fast-paced and unpredictable environment of primary care. Even the most passionate champions may decline to participate in HPV vaccine QI efforts if they do not have institutional support in the form of protected time for their work.
Our intervention first requires leadership buy-in from an administrative champion who is authorized to agree to the project and commit staff time and other organizational support. Next, operational champions familiar with clinics’ day-to-day operations are needed to schedule and deliver AAT workshops. Ideally, frontline champions are also available within participating clinics to offer support or deliver AAT workshops.
Interventions that seek to engage champions can navigate these challenges by planning intervention activities in the late winter when flu season is winding down, engaging teams of champions to allow for some redundancy in roles and making intervention activities as positive and efficient as possible to respect champions’ time and contributions.
Our vaccine champions have expressed appreciation for technical assistance, including AAT practice sessions, FAQ guides and tip sheets, and check-in meetings.
Partnering with organizations to meet project goals and fill gaps in expertise can be crucial to success. We partnered with a large state-wide quality collaborative that maintains close relationships with member healthcare systems to recruit systems and connect to decision makers. Other potential partners could be national organizations or state-wide vaccination coalitions that have existing relationships with healthcare systems.
Our research shows that vaccine champions can be an effective resource for increasing HPV vaccination.
Most providers with a role in adolescent vaccination work with at least one champion, and many work with several.
Champions can be physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, medical assistants, or QI staff. A professional degree matters less than their interest in improvement and strong relationships with colleagues.
Some champions lead quality improvement projects, while others encourage staff by sharing information, resources, and vaccination data.
The most effective champions combine hands-on clinical experience with a strong commitment to improving adolescent vaccination.
| Common in primary care: | Work in many roles: | Support their colleagues: | Bring experience and passion: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most providers with a role in adolescent vaccination work with at least one champion, and many work with several. | Champions can be physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, medical assistants, or QI staff. A professional degree matters less than their interest in improvement and strong relationships with colleagues. | Some champions lead quality improvement projects, while others encourage staff by sharing information, resources, and vaccination data. | The most effective champions combine hands-on clinical experience with a strong commitment to improving adolescent vaccination. |
sample description text
Use this checklist when planning an Announcement Approach Training.
“The project was a really great success within [our health system]. We had great staff engagement, and the communication approach taught in the training was very easy for our staff to use. It didn’t slow down the rooming process and fit in with the workflow. Since the trainings, we’ve been seeing improvements in HPV vaccination rates that add up to an additional 250–350 vaccines per month.”
Physician Name, Title
Browse the essential materials that guide champions and clinic teams through each step of the intervention.
Browse the essential materials that guide champions and clinic teams through each step of the intervention.
Browse the essential materials that guide champions and clinic teams through each step of the intervention.
Browse the essential materials that guide champions and clinic teams through each step of the intervention.
See how vaccine champions strengthen healthcare systems, increase vaccination rates, and sustain long-term progress.
Learn who makes an effective vaccine champion and how to recognize them in your healthcare system.
Understand the Champion intervention step by step, from preparation to workshops to sustainability planning.
Access free slide decks, templates, and guides that make implementation simple and scalable.
Find practical methods and proven strategies for putting the Vaccine Champion Intervention into practice.
