Immunization campaigns have had mixed reviews, resulting in low vaccination rates even with an available repository of vaccines. Depending on the setting and culture, a number of variables have been proposed to explain the low rate of vaccine uptake. This study aims to investigate information availability, digital literacy rates, and vaccination incentives, in the context of Bangladesh.
Researchers: Md. Rakib Hossain, Afsana Binte Khaleque, Sakib Mahmood, Nuzaira Binte Neaz, and Asma Tabassum
Timeline: 2021–2022
Status: Completed
Method: Quantitative
Contact: Md. Rakib Hossain; rakib.hossain@bracu.ac.bd
Context
While the supply of COVID-19 vaccines has been the primary constraining factor for many developing countries until now, the demand for vaccines has had challenges of its own. Vaccination roll-outs have received underwhelming responses, leading to low vaccination rates even when vaccines are available. Multiple factors have been hypothesized for the low uptake rate, depending on context and culture. In this study, BIGD will rigorously examine three factors and their interplay in low vaccination rates—information, digital literacy, and incentives—in the context of Bangladesh.
Objectives
The study employs a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to evaluate how each of the aforementioned factors influences immunization rates in Bangladesh. Previous studies suggest that only six percent of the eligible population has registered for vaccines. The study aims to delve deeper into the interplay of different variables to trace the inoculation process and its apparent inconsistencies.
Methodology
The RCT will consist of four arms where we randomly assign an eligible but unvaccinated population to one of four arms—three treatment arms and a control arm. The treatment will focus on the three factors mentioned above and on alleviating the issues:
- Information treatment: Information delivered a 15-minute interactive phone counselling session
- Financial incentive: Offering mobile recharge money conditional on vaccination
- Bundled intervention: Combining both the information counselling and the financial incentive.
Each participant in our study will be reached twice by enumerators—once for the intervention and a second time for the follow-up survey.
Findings and Recommendations
Forthcoming.
