A self-administered virtual reality intervention increases COVID-19 vaccination intention

Area of Science:

• Health Psychology
• Virtual Reality Applications
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Increasing vaccination intention is critical for global health, particularly for COVID-19.
• Traditional public health campaigns may benefit from innovative approaches to enhance vaccine acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel virtual reality (VR) intervention in increasing COVID-19 vaccination intention.
• To assess the impact of communicating personal and collective benefits of vaccination within a VR environment.

Main Methods:

• A preregistered online experiment with a 2x2 between-participant design was conducted.
• Participants received a 10-minute VR consultation with a virtual general practitioner, varying in age and communication content (personal benefits only vs. personal and collective benefits).
• Vaccination intention was measured before, immediately after, and one week after the VR intervention.

Main Results:

• The VR intervention significantly increased vaccination intentions among participants with imperfect intentions (mean difference 8.6, p<0.0001).
• Both communication conditions (personal benefits only, and personal plus collective benefits) led to increased vaccination intention.
• The increase in intention from pre- to post-intervention correlated significantly with intention one week later (ρ=0.20, p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality interventions are effective in boosting COVID-19 vaccination intentions.
• Communicating both personal and collective benefits in VR enhances vaccination intent with lasting effects.
• VR offers a promising, immersive tool to supplement public health strategies for vaccination promotion.