Familiar Spaces, Trusted Faces

The "Trusted Faces, Familiar Places" project, a collaborative effort between the University of Michigan and Universitas Syiah Kuala, aimed to enhance vaccine equity in Aceh, Indonesia by addressing trust and accessibility issues around vaccination services. Led by Abram Wagner and Harapan, the initiative deployed innovative methods to increase vaccination uptake in communities with low pediatric vaccination rates. The project's central strategy involved engaging local religious and community leaders in health conferences to promote vaccine information and culturally appropriate counseling. In tandem, a "vaccine-in-a-van" concept was implemented, bringing vaccination services to social and religious spaces to increase convenience and visibility. Over three years, districts in Aceh were randomized into different intervention groups, with a focus on training community health workers in vaccine administration and communication skills. The project sought to create a sustainable, community-integrated vaccination network by systematically approaching vaccine hesitancy and leveraging trusted local figures, ultimately aiming to establish a scalable model for other LMICs.