Health: respiratory syncytial virus, new parents and doctors united in a contest

The Holden School of Turin was the location for the launch of the fourth edition of # WhySì, a contest and hackaton wanted by Sanofi to develop the best information and communication campaigns on medical prevention issues. The first open innovation project, promoted in collaboration with Scuola Holden, the 2022 edition of # WhySì is dedicated to new parents with a particular focus on RSV pathologies (respiratory syncytial virus), such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. New this year is the direct involvement of new fathers and mothers in the initiative: first of all in a preliminary listening phase – a survey carried out by DoxaPharma – to understand the information and communication needs with respect to the new challenges that parenting imposes, explore their level of knowledge of infectious diseases and prevention solutions. Subsequently, together with pediatricians, hygienists and communicators, the new parents will be involved in the development of scientific, authoritative, effective and social communication campaigns. In fact, the role of the Internet is given great importance: according to the DoxaPharma survey promoted by Sanofi, among the authoritative sources for new parents, the pediatrician continues to play a central role, but both social media (influencer pages or dedicated pages) and web in its various forms (forums, websites of pharmaceutical companies and webinars and online courses) play an increasingly important role in obtaining information and making decisions. “I am happy that over the years # WhySì has developed the ability to intercept information needs and support with respect to the ever-changing prevention issues, keeping pace with a constantly evolving communication – is the comment by Mario Merlo, General Manager of the Vaccine Division of Sanofi in Italy – We have established new collaborations, important on the scientific and public health front, which they guide and validate the authority of information based on official sources and scientific evidence “.