Reminding people to get vaccinated increases the vaccination rate and could have a large beneficial effect on public health, according to reports. results of a study published in the medical journal Cochrane.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina in the United States performed a meta-analysis of 75 studies from 10 countries, including 55 studies involving 138,625 children, adolescents and adults, 29 of routine vaccination in infants and children, 24 on vaccination against fluin adults, 12 on adolescent vaccination, 8 on routine vaccination in adults such as tetanus or theHepatitis B and 5 on vaccination influenza in children.
The surveys covered lettered reminders, phone calls, computerized phone calls, text messages, or a combination of all of these formats.
Reminder messages to increase vaccination
Cochrane researchers have found that booster systems increase immunization in children and adults. About 8% more people were vaccinated following a booster.
“Evidence shows that recalling people increases the number of vaccinated patients. To be effective, phone awareness was the most effective way. This small effect could have a big beneficial effect on public health, ”explained Julie Jacobson Vann, of the University of North Carolina.
The study recalls that healthcare systems have the technology to integrate patient reminders into routine healthcare. These messages must be tailored to individuals and to each health service to maximize their effectiveness.
“As technologies develop, we need to think about how they can improve recall interventions, for example, we need to learn more about the characteristics of centralized interventions and the most effective text messages.”
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