Incentives and motivators in school-based hepatitis B vaccination programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• School-based vaccination programs are crucial for achieving herd immunity.
• Motivating student participation in vaccination programs can be challenging.
• Incentive-based strategies are often employed to increase vaccine uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of different incentives on student participation in a school-based vaccination program.
• To compare the impact of individual rewards versus peer incentives on consent form return rates.
• To identify key motivators for student vaccination among adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A school-based vaccination program was implemented across four schools.
• Students received individual incentives (scholastic credit, material rewards, social event access) and educational materials.
• Two schools implemented a peer incentive: class rewards for high consent form return rates within five days.

Main Results:

• Schools with peer incentives achieved higher consent form return rates (91% and 98%) compared to schools without (82% and 85%).
• Approximately 50% of students receiving peer incentives reported their motivational role.
• Students primarily cited the desire for protection (60%) and peer incentives as motivators, with individual rewards being less influential.

Conclusions:

• Peer incentives can be an effective strategy to increase student participation in school vaccination programs.
• The desire for personal protection remains a significant motivator for adolescent vaccination.
• A combination of educational strategies and well-designed incentives, particularly peer-based ones, may optimize vaccine program success.