Read on Twitter
A) THREAD - How Behavioural Science is being used to Influence Vaccine Uptake.
Buckle up guys. It's about to get hectic.
Buckle up guys. It's about to get hectic.
B) In the UK, 7 in 10 said that they would definitely/probably get a C-19 vaccine if offered it.
Source - @B_I_Tweets
This % is high enough to reach some level of herd immunity in any population. However, some epidemiologists are still pursuing 'Zero Covid', requiring ~100%.
Source - @B_I_Tweets
This % is high enough to reach some level of herd immunity in any population. However, some epidemiologists are still pursuing 'Zero Covid', requiring ~100%.
C) Having said that, we still don't know if vaccination will prevent transmission.
If it doesn't prevent it completely, it likely reduces the chances of transmission significantly, which we discussed in the thread below. https://twitter.com/SimplyBiochem/status/1344194370690568192?s=20
If it doesn't prevent it completely, it likely reduces the chances of transmission significantly, which we discussed in the thread below. https://twitter.com/SimplyBiochem/status/1344194370690568192?s=20
D) But how can a government get vaccine-hesitant citizens to warm to the prospect of vaccination?
They can use a psychological tool called: Social Norms.
But, what are Social Norms?
They can use a psychological tool called: Social Norms.
But, what are Social Norms?
E) Social norms signal appropriate and expected behaviour within a population and has been shown to be a powerful nudging strategy.
Let's discuss ways in which this is being applied and has been applied in the past:
Let's discuss ways in which this is being applied and has been applied in the past:
1. Scroll back up to the second tweet.
Public messages that highlight the popularity of the vaccine such as '7 in 10 people would take it,' is in itself representing common social behaviours that may influence a reader to adopt said behaviours.
Public messages that highlight the popularity of the vaccine such as '7 in 10 people would take it,' is in itself representing common social behaviours that may influence a reader to adopt said behaviours.
2. Vaccine Visibility
Social media uploads after vaccination & social signalling such as 'I Voted' stickers/badges paraphrased to 'I Was Vaccinated' could sway public opinion.
This was deployed in Sierra Leone in 2018, w/colourful bracelets used to signal infant vaccination.
Social media uploads after vaccination & social signalling such as 'I Voted' stickers/badges paraphrased to 'I Was Vaccinated' could sway public opinion.
This was deployed in Sierra Leone in 2018, w/colourful bracelets used to signal infant vaccination.
F) Other strategies beyond Social Norms could be:
1. Incentivisation: e.g. more social privileges
2. Messenger Effect: e.g. influential people getting vaccinated (President-Elect Biden, The Queen).
3. Ease of Access: e.g. free, no queues, wide availability, text reminders.
1. Incentivisation: e.g. more social privileges
2. Messenger Effect: e.g. influential people getting vaccinated (President-Elect Biden, The Queen).
3. Ease of Access: e.g. free, no queues, wide availability, text reminders.
G) Psychological nudges to inadvertently push a population in a given direction pose ethical challenges.
Arguably though, if the benefits outweigh the costs; the end of lockdowns, excess death & a swift return to normality; is this really such a bad thing?
What do you think?
Arguably though, if the benefits outweigh the costs; the end of lockdowns, excess death & a swift return to normality; is this really such a bad thing?
What do you think?
