Addressing Vaccine Misinformation with an Inoculation Chatbot

To protect populations against viral misinformation, the implementing partner used behavioral science to design an inoculation chatbot, through which interactive software guides users through narrative, games, and experiential learning that pre-bunks misinformation, equipping users with the skills required to be less susceptible to misinformation.

Misinformation about the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemicranging from rumors about false cures to harmful conspiracieshas spread rapidly through populations via social media and other channels.

This spread poses a serious challenge for public health officials working to protect their populations with effective, safe vaccines.

Vaccine hesitancy remains strong in Uzbekistan, with only 47.9 percent of its 34 million residents vaccinated against COVID-19. The inoculation chatbot will be a free service and cost less to run than traditional media and short message services.

The implementing partner is partnering with the Government of Uzbekistan to pilot the chatbot, and will conduct a randomized controlled trial to identify whether the chatbot helps users better spot manipulation techniques, reduces willingness to share manipulation techniques, and improves willingness to be vaccinated.

Through the power of behavioral science, the inoculation chatbot has the potential to protect millions of people against a broad range of misinformation.