Global Youth Competition on Influenza and COVID-19 Prevention and Control

Deadline: 13-Sep-2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) is inviting students and young professionals aged 18–35 worldwide to create short, creative videos promoting influenza and COVID-19 prevention and control. Participants can use storytelling, animation, educational content, or other innovative formats to address misinformation and encourage effective respiratory infection prevention. WHO Influenza and COVID-19 Prevention Video Competition 2026 The competition is designed to engage young people in public health communication and raise awareness about preventing and controlling seasonal influenza and COVID-19. The initiative encourages participants to use video storytelling to communicate accurate health information in accessible and engaging ways. Submissions should help audiences understand respiratory infection risks, challenge misinformation, and adopt practical prevention measures. The competition is open internationally and provides young creators with an opportunity to have their work showcased by WHO. What Is the Purpose of the Competition? The WHO video competition aims to strengthen public awareness of influenza and COVID-19 prevention through youth-led communication.

Participants are encouraged to create content that

Promotes accurate information about influenza and COVID-19. Addresses common misinformation about respiratory infections. Highlights practical prevention and control measures. Encourages communities to take appropriate protective actions. Uses creative and accessible storytelling to reach wider audiences. Communicates public health messages in an engaging format. Who Is Eligible? The competition is open to students and young professionals from around the world.

Applicants must:

Be between 18 and 35 years old. Be a student or young professional.

Participate individually or as part of a team

Submit videos addressing influenza and/or COVID-19 prevention and control. Ensure videos submitted in languages other than English include English subtitles. There are no nationality or country restrictions stated in the provided programme information. What Can Participants Submit?

Participants can submit up to three videos

The competition encourages creative approaches rather than restricting participants to one particular video style. Possible approaches may include: The central requirement is that the content should promote awareness and prevention of influenza and COVID-19. Key Topics to Address Strong submissions can focus on practical public health communication, including: Influenza Prevention Videos may explain why seasonal influenza matters and how individuals and communities can reduce transmission and protect vulnerable people. COVID-19 Prevention Participants can communicate appropriate measures for reducing COVID-19 transmission and encourage audiences to follow reliable public health guidance. Misinformation A major focus of the competition is addressing misinformation. Participants can identify common misconceptions and replace them with evidence-based information from trustworthy health sources. Community Awareness Videos can demonstrate how individual actions contribute to healthier communities, particularly during periods when respiratory infections are circulating. Why It Matters Young people play an important role in communicating health information through digital platforms and social networks. Creative video content can make complicated public health messages easier to understand and share. The competition also provides an opportunity for students and young professionals to contribute directly to global health communication. By focusing on influenza and COVID-19, participants can help promote awareness of respiratory infection prevention while encouraging audiences to make informed decisions. Awards and Recognition Winning entries will receive international visibility through WHO’s communication channels. The creators of the global winning video will: Have their work featured by WHO on the competition webpage. Be invited to present their video at a global webinar focused on influenza and COVID-19 prevention and control in October 2026. Receive a WHO certificate featuring the creator’s name or names and the title of the video. This recognition can provide valuable exposure for young communicators, filmmakers, students, public health advocates, and emerging professionals. How to Participate Applicants should follow the competition’s official submission requirements when preparing their videos.

A practical preparation process is:

Choose a specific public health message. Decide whether the video will focus on influenza, COVID-19, misinformation, prevention, or a combination of these topics. Research the subject carefully. Use reliable public health information to ensure that all claims and recommendations are accurate. Develop a clear concept. Create a short storyline or communication approach that can be understood quickly by the intended audience. Produce the video. Use an appropriate filming, animation, editing, or storytelling format. Check language requirements. Videos produced in languages other than English should include English subtitles. Review the public health message. Make sure the final content is clear, responsible, and does not unintentionally promote misinformation. Submit the video. Participants may submit up to three videos, either individually or as a team, according to the competition’s submission instructions. Tips for Creating a Strong Submission Applicants can improve the effectiveness of their videos by keeping the communication focused and audience-friendly.

Consider the following:

Focus on one clear message rather than trying to explain everything about influenza and COVID-19. Make the opening seconds engaging. Use simple language that a general audience can understand. Present health information accurately and responsibly. Use subtitles where appropriate to improve accessibility. Consider how the video will work on digital and