Text Message Reminders for Pediatric COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines

No longer recruiting at 3 trial locations

Overseen By Alex Fiks, MD MSCE

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

Disqualifiers: Opted out of text messages, 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 aims to determine if text message reminders help children receive their COVID-19 and flu vaccines on time. It will compare groups receiving different types of text reminders: some for both vaccines, some for just one, and some with no reminders. The trial targets children aged six months to 17 years who are due for both vaccines, receive care at a participating site, and have contact information for text messages in English or Spanish. As an unphased trial, this study provides an opportunity to contribute to improving vaccination rates through innovative communication methods.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that text message reminders are safe for pediatric vaccine reminders?

Research shows that text message reminders can increase vaccination rates for both COVID-19 and flu. These reminders are safe, as they are simple messages sent to phones, posing no physical risks. Studies confirm that people generally experience no issues receiving these reminders. Text message reminders offer an easy way to remember vaccine appointments and have been used safely in many places without negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using text message reminders for pediatric COVID-19 and flu vaccines because they offer a simple, tech-savvy way to boost vaccination rates. Unlike traditional methods that rely on in-person reminders from healthcare providers, text messages can reach parents quickly and directly, fitting seamlessly into their daily routines. This method harnesses the widespread use of mobile phones, potentially increasing accessibility and adherence to vaccine schedules. By testing reminders for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines, as well as each one individually, researchers aim to find the most effective strategy to improve vaccination uptake among children.

What evidence suggests that this trial's text message reminders could be effective for increasing pediatric COVID-19 and flu vaccination rates?

Research has shown that text message reminders can increase vaccination rates for children and teens. In this trial, participants may receive text message reminders for both influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations, or for just one of these vaccines. Studies have found that when parents receive text reminders, more children get their COVID-19 vaccines. Similarly, sending reminders close to the appointment time boosts flu vaccination numbers. Messages mentioning both COVID-19 and flu vaccines can also increase confidence in getting vaccinated. Overall, using text messages effectively reminds people about vaccines and helps ensure more children receive their shots on time. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Melissa Stockwell, MD MPH

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Alex Fiks, MD

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents or guardians of children eligible to receive COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. It's focused on those who are part of the AAP PROS network practices, aiming to see if text reminders can improve vaccination rates.

Inclusion Criteria

Language listed in electronic health record is English or Spanish

Child receives care at study site

My child is between 6 months and 17 years old and needs COVID-19 and flu shots.

Exclusion Criteria

I have chosen not to receive text messages from the clinic.

Language listed in electronic health record is not English or Spanish

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Parents of eligible children receive text message reminders for COVID-19 and/or influenza vaccines

7 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for vaccine receipt and timeliness

7 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Text Message Reminders

Trial Overview The study tests whether sending text message reminders can increase the number of kids getting their flu and COVID-19 shots. Different groups will get reminders for just one vaccine or both, to compare effectiveness.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Text message influenza vaccine reminders Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Text message reminders only for influenza vaccination

Group II: Text message influenza and COVID-19 vaccine reminders Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Text message reminders for both influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations

Group III: Text message COVID-19 vaccine reminders Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Text message reminders only for COVID-19 vaccination

Group IV: Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Usual care has no text message

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

University of Pennsylvania

Collaborator

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

American Academy of Pediatrics

Collaborator

Trials

46

Recruited

4,071,000+

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Collaborator

Trials

3,361

Recruited

5,516,000+

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Collaborator

Trials

749

Recruited

11,400,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12013542/

Effect of text message reminders to improve paediatric ... Previous studies have demonstrated that text message reminders can improve pediatric vaccination rates, including low income & diverse settings.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X24012155

How text message reminders increase COVID-19 booster ... The present study shows that ownership and effectiveness frames in text message reminders result in higher uptake for COVID-19 booster vaccines, ...

3. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/10/1151

Mobile Phone Text Message Reminders to Improve ... A recent systematic review demonstrated that personalized text message reminders for COVID-19 vaccination appointments increased vaccination uptake [29].

4. bmcdigitalhealth.biomedcentral.com bmcdigitalhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44247-025-00198-w

Implementation and evaluation of text message prompts on ... Our study underscores the utility of SMS prompts in influencing pediatric vaccine uptake.

5. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/ije/article/doi/10.1093/ije/dyaf125/8203669?rss=1

Building the global evidence on text message reminders to ... Participants received three messages reminding them to take their babies for timely vaccination: one at baseline, one 2 weeks before the ...

6. cdc.gov cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7223a2.htm

Safety Monitoring of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Third ... In v-safe, 38% of children had no reported reactions after a third dose; most reported reactions were mild and transient.

7. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2794447

Effect of Text Message Reminders and Vaccine ... This randomized clinical trial found that a behavioral nudge delivered through text messages accelerated adherence to a health system's COVID-19 vaccination ...

8. qualitysafety.bmj.com qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/qhc/34/5/339.full.pdf

Effect of text message reminders to improve paediatric ... Previous studies have demonstrated that text message reminders can improve pediatric vaccination rates, including low income & diverse settings ...