Evaluation of an Interactive Risk Information Tool to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Incidence in Vaccine-hesitant People

Summary

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines have saved millions of lives since release and remain a key tool in the fight against the pandemic.

However, most countries have not reached the vaccine uptake rates needed to relieve pressure on hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) during peak corona periods. Reduced effectiveness of vaccines in preventing infections with the Omicron variant and milder courses of the disease may trigger and support beliefs that vaccination is no longer necessary, especially among vaccine sceptics.The term 'vaccine sceptic', however, is used heterogeneously and often interchangeably to describe both 'vaccine hesitants' and 'vaccine deniers'. In contrast to vaccine deniers, characterized by a definite and unwavering decision not to get vaccinated, vaccine hesitants are characterized by a spectrum of indecisiveness, with a high need for information on both benefits and harms. They may still decide to get vaccinated if information succeeds in convincing them. In light of the potential for a change of mind in vaccine-hesitants the key question is: How does one best address their high needs for balanced risk ratio information? Evidence from cognitive and behavioral science suggests that interactive simulations of risk information, which imitate mechanisms by which humans sequentially and experientially sample risk information naturally, can be more effective in helping people develop adequate risk perceptions and initiate behavioral change than the ubiquitously used conventional text-based formats. The study therefore seeks to determine if interactive risk ratio simulation relative to a text-based format are more effective in prompting positive change in unvaccinated, vaccine-hesitant respondents' intention to get the COVID-19 and also in the respective benefit-to-harm ratio assessment during the Omicron wave in Germany.

Conditions

• COVID-19 Infection

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Simulation

The participants in the intervention group receive two interactive simulations in addition to a general text module that provides sequential, animated information on the spread of the virus without prevention, the effectiveness of vaccination and potential side effects of vaccination on a herd protection level and the individual level.

BEHAVIORAL

Text

The participants in the control group receive two text-based information in addition to a general text module that provides information on the spread of the virus without prevention, the effectiveness of vaccination and potential side effects of vaccination on a herd protection level and the individual level. Both conditions ensure the provision of a level of knowledge that at least corresponds to standard care.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

  collaborator OTHER

• Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

  collaborator OTHER

• University Medical Center Mainz

  collaborator OTHER

• Max Planck Institute for Human Development

  collaborator OTHER

• Federal Joint Committee

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Charite University, Berlin, Germany

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Odette Wegwarth, Prof. Dr. · Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-02-03

Primary Completion

2023-01-31

Completion

2023-02-28

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations