On December 11, 2025, MIT GOV/Lab participated in a webinar on trust and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Ebola outbreak, hosted by the Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) for Preparedness and Response to Pandemics and Shocks. The event featured a panel of researchers and practitioners, including a presentation from Dr. Lula Chen on “Trust, NPI adherence, and vaccination uptake in Uganda.”

The event featured studies focused in Uganda, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Panelists discussed trust in government and institutions as an important driver for vaccine uptake, intention to vaccinate, and adherence to NPIs. A theme that arose was the importance of government acting as a trusted messenger exhibiting good intentions to encourage vaccine uptake. The discussion explored many strategies for increasing trust, including filling information voids, investing in systems, demonstrating good leadership, and engaging communities.

You can access the webinar recording here using the passcode j$bz+i0!