Eight social media influencers were selected earlier this week as winners of the UniteHealth Social Media Awards, showcasing individuals and organisations who used social media to strengthen collective understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and evidence-based responses.

The winners represent eight countries – nominees were recommended from more than 60 countries – and cover six categories and a “Young Leader” category that recognizes the contributions of social media users and influencers under 30.

Health Policy Watch was one of eight non-profit organizations engaged in public health and health-related media work that co-sponsored the awards alongside UniteHealth.

The winners were:

• Pandemic Policy & Practice: Cinthia Reyes, Mexico
• Staying Safe: Trisha Greenhalgh, United Kingdom
• Understanding the Virus: Dr. Vinod Balasubramaniam, Malaysia
• COVID-19 Care and Support: Benjamin Djoudalbaye, Chad
• Vaccines: Hector L Frisbie, Mexico and Benjamin Djoudalbaye, Chad
• Long COVID: Padma Priya DVL, India
• Young Leader: Shiven Taneja, Canada

Watch the ceremony:

Unite Health Social Media Awards Live Event https://t.co/llTXdl0tew

— #UniteHealth Social Media Awards (@socmed4good) June 13, 2023

The awards aimed to say “thank you” to those who gave their time and expertise to create a positive influence on social media platforms, said Prof Jeffrey Lazarus, a health researcher at the Barcelona Institute of Global Health and co-founder of the awards. Nominations for award candidates were solicited from around the world. Thousands of votes were cast for government officials, NGO workers, scientists, community activists, doctors, nurses and journalists.

Image Credits: Screenshot.