Communication Campaign for COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Syracuse University

Disqualifiers: Outside New York, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines whether a local communication campaign can boost COVID-19 vaccination rates. The campaign uses local wastewater data to inform communities about COVID-19 risks and encourage vaccinations. The study compares results in 20 counties receiving the campaign against 20 counties that do not. It specifically looks at changes in vaccination rates and differences among racial and ethnic groups. This study targets residents in selected New York counties aiming to improve public health in their communities.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative public health strategies in their communities.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this communication campaign is safe?

Research has shown that communication campaigns can increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Studies have explored various methods to boost vaccination rates and found encouraging results. For instance, clear and trustworthy communication can increase people's willingness to get vaccinated.

Other studies indicate that digital ads on social media offer an affordable way to change views about vaccines. These campaigns can ease doubts and fears about vaccination. Overall, research suggests that communication campaigns are well-received, with no reports of harm or negative effects.

While this trial tests a new method to improve vaccine rates through communication, past campaigns have demonstrated strong safety evidence. These campaigns focus on sharing information and do not involve taking any medication, so there are no physical risks involved. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it's exploring a new way to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake through a communication campaign. Unlike standard methods that might focus on logistics or access, this approach targets people's attitudes and knowledge about vaccines. By crafting tailored messages, the campaign aims to address vaccine hesitancy directly, potentially leading to higher vaccination rates. This could be a game-changer in improving public health, especially in communities with low vaccine acceptance.

What evidence suggests that this communication campaign is effective for increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake?

Research shows that communication campaigns can increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. In this trial, participants in the Communications Intervention Group will experience targeted communication methods designed to encourage vaccination. A review of studies has found that various communication methods have successfully encouraged more people to get vaccinated. For example, the "We Can Do This" digital campaign led to more people receiving their first vaccine dose. Another study found that social media ads can change perceptions and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines. These findings suggest that targeted communication campaigns are crucial for improving vaccination rates, especially in areas with high hesitancy. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for residents of selected rural and urban counties in New York. It aims to understand if local COVID-19 data shared through a communication campaign can encourage more people to get vaccinated.

Inclusion Criteria

Counties in New York State

Exclusion Criteria

Counties outside of New York State

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of a communications campaign based on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance data to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake

11 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in vaccination status and effectiveness of the communications campaign

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Communication Campaign

Trial Overview The study tests a communications campaign using local wastewater surveillance data on COVID-19 to see if it boosts vaccine uptake. Forty counties are split into two groups, with one receiving the campaign and the other not, to compare results.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Communications Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Syracuse University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

54

Recruited

118,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Effective communication strategies are crucial for improving participation in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, especially in the context of widespread misinformation about vaccines.

The proposed ASK (Assume, Seek, Know) approach encourages transparency about options, collaboration with stakeholders, and understanding of trial data to enhance decision-making and potentially reduce vaccine hesitancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health Communication and Decision Making about Vaccine Clinical Trials during a Pandemic. Langford, AT.[2022]

A scoping review of 11 studies found that adverse events related to COVID-19 vaccinations are generally mild to moderate, with no significant impact on daily activities and no unique patterns in vaccine-related deaths, indicating a strong safety profile for the vaccines.

The review highlights the importance of accurate public communication regarding vaccine side effects and emphasizes the need for strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, suggesting that future research should focus on diverse populations and medical conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Reactions of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Scoping Review of Observational Studies. Dhamanti, I., Suwantika, AA., Adlia, A., et al.[2023]

In a study of 1047 Chinese adults, 81.8% of those who intended to get vaccinated against COVID-19 actually received the vaccine, highlighting a strong correlation between vaccination intention and actual uptake.

Key factors influencing vaccine uptake included prior intention to vaccinate, belief in vaccine safety, and community recommendations, while vaccine supply shortages negatively impacted vaccination rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

From COVID-19 Vaccination Intention to Actual Vaccine Uptake: A Longitudinal Study Among Chinese Adults After Six Months of a National Vaccination Campaign. Wang, J., Zhu, H., Lai, X., et al.[2022]

A survey of participants in a mixed vaccination protocol for Sars-CoV2 revealed that only 30% remained symptom-free after vaccination, indicating a higher incidence of adverse effects compared to pivotal trials.

Over 26% of vaccinees experienced severe symptoms that required them to stay home, with an average of 1.5 days of sick leave, highlighting the need for awareness of potential side effects in future vaccination campaigns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute adverse events of Sars-CoV2 vaccines: Experiences from a health care worker vaccination campaign in two municipal hospitals in northwest Germany. Kermer, P., Abdalla, Y., Klein, G., et al.[2023]

Most adverse events reported from COVID-19 vaccines were mild or moderate, indicating a generally favorable safety profile during clinical trials.

However, some viral vector-based vaccines were associated with thrombotic events, highlighting the need for ongoing studies and post-marketing surveillance to fully understand potential adverse effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[COVID-19 vaccine safety]. Chaparro Mérida, NA., Moreno Samper, D., Lacato, AOF.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12086885/

Communication-based interventions to increase COVID-19 ... This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of different communication strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and willingness.

2. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730.2023.2208529

COVID-19 Communication Campaigns for Vaccination Although effective communication can positively affect public health outcomes, including by increasing vaccine uptake (Wakefield, Loken ...

3. pnas.org pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2208110120

Digital public health interventions at scale: The impact of ... This paper analyzes whether social media advertising can be a cost-effective tool to influence attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines and ultimately ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10158813/

Campaign Effectiveness Evaluation The We Can Do This digital campaign was successful in encouraging first-dose COVID-19 vaccination. The findings were robust to multiple modeling specifications.

5. bmcglobalpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcglobalpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44263-024-00079-w

Behaviorally informed digital campaigns and their association ... Our results serve as preliminary evidence for public health officials to encourage vaccine uptake in high-hesitancy contexts. Peer Review ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525002323

Was health skepticism accounted for in communication ... In the specific context of COVID-19 vaccination, PSAs could be a tool for acknowledging the fear and distrust that contribute to skepticism and that presented ...