Lessons from the storm: evaluating the effectiveness of a post-tornado tetanus awareness campaign in Nebraska.

BACKGROUND: Tetanus vaccination is crucial after storms due to the high injury risk during cleanup. This study evaluated a tetanus awareness vaccination campaign and accompanying media coverage launched 24 hours after a tornado in Douglas County, Nebraska. METHODS: The Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) collaborated with community organizations and engaged media outlets to design and implement the campaign. The campaign used a multimodal approach, including press releases to media outlets (TV, radio, and newspapers), social media posts, a community Facebook group, and free tetanus clinics operated in partnership with local health organizations and community centers. A posttest-only comparison groups design administered 2 weeks after the tornado examined differences between Douglas County adults (n = 87) and adults from four comparison states (CO, MD, MO, TX; n = 424) in vaccination status, awareness of tetanus shot importance, awareness of tetanus shot locations, and perceived severity of tetanus score. Statistical analysis included logistic and linear regressions. RESULTS: Compared to comparison state adults, Douglas County residents had greater awareness of tetanus shot importance (AOR = 3.79, 95% CI = 1.98-7.23, P < 0.001), tetanus shot locations (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.01-2.96, P = 0.049), and perceived tetanus severity (adjusted mean difference (β) = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.03-1.25, P = 0.041). CONCLUSION: A rapidly launched post-tornado information campaign and accompanying media coverage effectively raised awareness of the importance of tetanus vaccination. The collaborative approach by DCHD highlights the potential value of multi-source information dissemination during disaster recovery.