Facebook launches profile frames to boost COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Nigeria

Facebook has launched a new social media drive allowing people to add frames and graphics to their profiles on Facebook and Instagram, saying they have either had the COVID vaccine or plan to. Working in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and other key regulatory bodies within the Health sector in Nigeria, Facebook will use its scale and speed to reach people quickly and help them get credible information, get vaccinated and come back together safely.

The new range of Facebook frames and Instagram GIPHY stickers allow people to share their support for getting vaccinated with their family and friends, as the access to COVID vaccines expands across Nigeria. The frames and stickers include banners that say “Let’s Get Vaccinated” or “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine”. The banner will appear overlaid on the edge of their profile picture next to a blue bubble that reads “We Can Do This.”Facebook says it is launching the profile frames because research shows how social norms can have a major impact on people’s attitude and behaviour when it comes to their health. While thousands have taken the vaccine, millions of people remain hesitant about whether to accept the vaccine or not.

“We’re promoting these unique profile frames and GIFs to all Nigerian Facebook and Instagram users to raise vital vaccine confidence.” said Adaora Ikenze, Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa. “The new frames and GIPHY stickers let you share your support for COVID-19 vaccines, and see that others you respect and care about are doing the same.”

To add a COVID-19 vaccine frame to your Facebook profile picture

Open your profile in the Facebook app
Click your profile picture
Click ‘Add frame’
Search for the ‘COVID Vaccine’ frames and select the one you want to use
Click ‘Use as Profile Picture’ to save

To use COVID-19 vaccine Instagram stickers (from GIPHY) on your Instagram story

Open Instagram and add to your story – take a new picture or use a photograph or video of your choosing
From your Instagram story, tap the ‘add media’ button, or swipe up to add Stickers from GIPHY
In the search bar, use the search term ‘COVID Vaccine’ and select a sticker of your choosing (scroll through the options to find the one you want to use)
Position this on your story image or video
Use the hashtag #GetVaccinated if you wish, then post

Speaking on the partnership with Facebook, Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said “In a changing world where all that we knew about spontaneous travel, the warmth of human embrace and the freedom of assembly is no longer guaranteed, it is exhilarating to know that partnerships like the one we secured with Facebook demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit to endure, innovate and re-emerge with the promise of hope that COVID-19 vaccination offers to everyone.”

In the weeks ahead, Facebook says it will show people a summary in their News Feed of all your friends, family members and people you follow who are using the new COVID-19 vaccine profile frames. For that reason, adopting the first-party frames will be important, if you want to be a part of that list that’s shown to others.

 

The launch of Facebook’s social media drive comes during this year’s World Immunization week and further promotes the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against diseases. Themed ‘Vaccines bring us closer’, World Immunization Week 2021 will urge greater engagement around immunization globally to promote the importance of vaccination in bringing people together, and improving the health and wellbeing of everyone, everywhere throughout life.