Messages aimed at increasing the uptake of COVID-19 booster vaccines have been modestly successful, perhaps in part because they often focus on why individuals should receive a vaccine. In contrast, Construal Level Theory posits that messages emphasizing “how” to get a vaccine may be more effective than emphasizing “why”. This trial was conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and involved 3,665 patients. It sought to determine if pre-visit patient portal messages in primary care practices designed using Construal Level Theory increased rates of COVID-19 booster vaccination among their eligible patients. Rates of COVID vaccination did not differ significantly between arms, but the "why" arm outperformed the "how" arm for vaccination after 6 weeks.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04871776

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Co-Principal Investigators: Nancy Haff, MD, MPH and Julie Lauffenburger PharmD, PhD