Effects of different types of written vaccination information on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK (OCEANS-III): a single-blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial
RCT (n=12 463 willing, 2932 doubtful, and 3460 strongly hesitant) found that in ~ 10% of population strongly hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines, provision of information on personal benefit reduces hesitancy to a greater extent than information on collective benefits.
Source:
The Lancet Public Health
SPS commentary:
A commentary notes the effects of such statements might differ among the strongly hesitant. On the one hand, strongly hesitant people include believers in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, who have been found to be primarily concerned by their own safety rather than the safety of others. These people might be sensitive to reassuring arguments on the individual benefit–risk balance of vaccination. On the other hand, strongly hesitant people also include anti-vaxxers, who have been found to be insensitive to communication about both individual and collective benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Accordingly, this group is likely to remain insensitive to any additional arguments on the benefits of vaccination.