9.4.4  Meetings with special groups

In your community you may be aware of some special groups who have been largely unreached by immunization services, or have chosen not to participate in them. You should try to include such people or groups in your meetings and planning process right from the start. Some examples of special groups include:

• pastoralist groups
• migrant workers
• ethnic or other minority groups
• groups in geographically remote areas, who may find it difficult to reach the site of the immunization services
• people who are injured, sick or disabled, who may find it difficult to get to where immunizations are taking place
• religious or traditional sects that refuse immunization
• refugees
• homeless families.

You should always try to ensure that your messages are concise and to-the-point, and also that they are memorable. This is particularly important in meetings with representatives from any of the special groups mentioned in this section. In the final part of this study session, we turn to some of the negative rumours about immunization that might influence people against the service in your community.