Could a simple text help lift GP vax rates?
Reminding patients with a text saying 'your dose is available' worked for family physicians in the US, shows study
GPs could double COVID-19 vaccine uptake by sending a simple text to patients saying “your dose is available”, a US study suggests.
The researchers trialled a number of different text messages to try to find a way to boost vaccination take up rates among their patients.
Their study included 93,000 patients (average age 73) randomly assigned to receive one of four text messages or no text message, according to the report in Nature.
They found that appointment rates within six days of getting the first reminder were nearly double among those receiving texts compared to those who did not receive a text (13% versus 7%).
