A chatbot has launched to fight the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.听
Creative technology agency Rehab and the University of Nottingham have developed COVID Vax Facts, a conversational interface aimed at tackling听hesitancy and听concerns around their听safety.听听
Experts suggest听90% of the UK population听must receive the听vaccine听for the nation听to achieve herd immunity, but figures from听a听University of Nottingham听study听indicate听1 in 5 people听remain听uncertain about going ahead.听
Rehab says celebrities posting听about receiving the听vaccine isn鈥檛 enough of a solution. Enter the chatbot,听which听converses with users in an objective, non-judgemental听manner, talking them through what is known and what isn鈥檛, with scientific evidence presented in an accessible way.听听
At the end of the conversation, participants are asked if they feel听more or less confident听in their initial opinion on the vaccine.听听
The chatbot also collects anonymous data on the responses,听which will allow the university鈥檚 research team to spot the influence of factors like age, ethnic group and social class.听This听could inform vital interventions in the coming months.听听
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The project comes out of a听three-year partnership between Rehab and the University of Nottingham focusing on digital interventions.听听
鈥淒igital technology, and social media in particular, contribute to the vaccine hesitancy issue, so it鈥檚 vital that we consider how we can make technology a part of the solution and work for society – rather than against it,鈥� said Rehab CEO听Rob Bennett.听
鈥�The potential of conversational interfaces has advanced tremendously in recent years, and this project hopes to spotlight how pivotal they can be in fighting on the right side of important battles.听听
鈥�Rehab is always looking at the endless possibilities of how technology can help people, and we鈥檙e very pleased to bring this project to the public.鈥�听
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Kavita听Vedhara, Professor of Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences commented: 鈥淭here is a lot of information and misinformation about COVID-19听vaccines听and it can be hard to know where to look and who to trust.听听
鈥�We have tried to develop a ‘one-stop shop’ that will provide information about the most common issues raised by the UK public. Our aim is to give people the information that will help them make an informed choice.听听
鈥�Having a COVID-19 vaccine is a choice and everyone deserves a chance to have access to the information that will help them make that choice.鈥�听
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