Changing Mindsets About Side Effects of the COVID-19 Vaccination: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Public Health
• Immunology

Background:

• Concerns about vaccine side effects are a significant barrier to vaccine uptake for COVID-19 and other diseases.
• Cost- and time-efficient interventions are needed to improve the vaccine experience and reduce vaccine hesitancy.
• It is critical to address side-effect concerns without withholding information about potential adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if a brief "symptoms as positive signals" mindset intervention can enhance the vaccine experience.
• To assess the intervention's effectiveness in reducing vaccine hesitancy following COVID-19 vaccination.
• To evaluate the impact of reframing common side effects as indicators of immune response.

Main Methods:

• Adult participants (18+) were recruited post-second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
• Participants were randomly assigned to either a mindset intervention group or a control group.
• The intervention group viewed a short video explaining how vaccine side effects signal a developing immune response; the control group received standard information.

Main Results:

• The mindset intervention group reported significantly less worry about symptoms at day 3 compared to controls.
• Participants in the intervention group experienced fewer symptoms immediately after vaccination.
• Intentions to receive future vaccinations, such as for COVID-19, were significantly increased in the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• A brief intervention reframing vaccine side effects as positive signals is effective in reducing worry.
• This mindset intervention can increase future vaccine intentions, supporting its use in public health strategies.
• The study highlights a novel, low-cost approach to mitigate vaccine hesitancy by managing symptom perception.