WhatsApp has introduced a new sticker pack called Vaccines for All to encourage its users to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to show their appreciation to healthcare professionals around the world. The new sticker pack was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). WhatsApp has also partnered with more than 150 national, state and local governments, as well as organizations such as WHO and UNICEF to deliver authenticated COVID-19 information and resources to its users around the world. COVID-19 helplines created on WhatsApp by different organizations have also started offering information on vaccines and registration.
The Vaccines for All sticker pack on WhatsApp contains 23 separate stickers designed by WHO. It is available for download on Android and iOS and aims to empower people “to express the joy, relief and hope they feel about the possibilities offered by COVID-19 vaccines.” Some of the stickers in the new pack are also intended for WhatsApp users to show their appreciation for healthcare workers.
“As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the world, the new sticker pack aims to encourage vaccine uptake and represents hope,” said Andy Pattison, team leader, Digital Channels, WHO , in a prepared press release.
In addition to the new sticker pack, WhatsApp has added COVID-19 hotlines from various national, state and local governments and organizations such as WHO and UNICEF since the start of the pandemic. The instant messaging app claimed that more than three billion messages were sent through these global hotlines in the past year.
WhatsApp also noted that governments in countries like India, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa have started using these hotlines to connect citizens with information and accurate recording of COVID-19 vaccine. In Indonesia, the messaging app reported that 500,000 medical workers signed up for their vaccine appointments through the helpline in its first five days.
In India, WhatsApp partnered with MyGov and Reliance’s AI platform Haptik last year to deliver COVID-19 information to Indian citizens through a chatbot called MyGov Corona Helpdesk. The chatbot includes details on COVID-19 vaccines and has passed the 30 million user mark.
WhatsApp has also waived the fees needed to enable message delivery through the WhatsApp Business API to help governments and international organizations connect large numbers of people to vaccine information and services.
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