UNICEF Launches Polio Pulse: A Social Listening Hub to Combat Misinformation and Strengthen Vaccination Efforts
New digital platform provides real-time insights on polio-related misinformation, helping drive evidence-based vaccine advocacy
In a significant step to counter misinformation and enhance polio eradication efforts, UNICEF has launched Polio Pulse, a dedicated social listening platform that tracks and analyzes digital conversations about polio. The initiative is designed to provide real-time insights from social media, blogs, forums, and news sites across polio-endemic and outbreak countries.
Operating across five UNICEF regions and covering 12 major languages, Polio Pulse delivers Trending Narrative Alerts, categorizing misinformation into high, medium, and low-risk levels based on their reach and potential impact on vaccination efforts. By identifying emerging misinformation trends early, the platform enables country teams, policymakers, and health communicators to craft data-driven responses that address public concerns and reinforce vaccine confidence.
Why It Matters:
Misinformation and disinformation about vaccines continue to pose a significant challenge to immunization efforts. By leveraging social listening, Polio Pulse strengthens UNICEF’s ability to detect and respond to misinformation rapidly, ensuring communities receive accurate, timely, and culturally relevant information about polio vaccination.
The platform’s daily-updated analysis of polio outbreak narratives will serve as a vital resource for health officials, partners, and frontline workers engaged in the fight against polio. Through this initiative, UNICEF reinforces its commitment to building trust in vaccines, addressing concerns with transparency, and ensuring that no child misses life-saving immunization.