Using Text Messages to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Rate

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Vaccination Hesitancy; COVID-19
• Interventions: Behavioral: Behavioural science-informed text messages; Behavioral: Control

• Registration Number: NCT05993260
• Lead Sponsor: The Behavioural Insights Team

Brief Summary

This study is a nationwide randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the impact of behavioural science-informed text messages notifying patients of their eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine on vaccination rates.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-04-26
• Primary Completion: 2021-04-29
• Study Completion: 2021-05-10
• Status Verified: 2023-08
• Study First Submitted: 2023-08-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-08-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-08-11
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-15
• Last Update Posted: 2023-08-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1825937

Inclusion Criteria

• (i) satisfying the age criteria as defined above;
• (ii) recorded in the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS);
• (iii) with a valid mobile phone number;
• (iv) who had not already received or been invited for the COVID-19 vaccine via NIMS at the time of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants with invalid phone numbers

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Top of queue	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "You've reached the top of the queue and are a priority for getting a free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Join the millions	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "You are now eligible for your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Join the millions who have already had theirs. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Protect you and those close to you	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "You are now eligible for your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and those close to you against coronavirus. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Control	Control	Received the text message "You are now eligible for your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Simple	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "You can now book your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Reserved	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "Your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine is waiting for you. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Convenience	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "You are now eligible for your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Choose a time and place that suits you. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."
Protection against virus	Behavioural science-informed text messages	Received the text message "You are now eligible for your free NHS Covid-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated is the best protection against coronavirus. Please book yours now at \[LINK\] or by calling 119."

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Booking rate within 72 hours	72 hours	The proportion of first dose vaccination appointments booked through the NHS National Booking System within 72 hours (inclusive) of the text message being sent

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Vaccination rate within 14 days	14 days	The proportion of first dose vaccinations received within 14 days (inclusive) of the text message being sent

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

NHS England; 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom