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COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Messaging in Emergency Departments: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

Molina MF, Eucker SA, Rising KL, Kean ER, Rafique Z, Mesbah H, Glidden DV, Arreguin MI et al.

JAMA network open, 2025

852 participants

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Patient uptake of updated COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for reducing severe outcomes, yet national uptake remains low.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if tailored messaging or simple inquiry about vaccine acceptance increases 30-day uptake of updated COVID-19 vaccines among emergency department (ED) patients.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This 3-arm, cluster randomized clinical trial conducted from January 29 to June 18, 2024, enrolled adult ED patients who had not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the prior 6 months across 6 EDs in San Francisco, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas; and Durham, North Carolina.

INTERVENTIONS: Intervention M involved tailored messaging about updated COVID-19 vaccines and inquiry about vaccine acceptance. Intervention Q involved only inquiry about vaccine acceptance. Usual care (no messaging or vaccine acceptance questions) served as the control.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was updated COVID-19 vaccine receipt within 30 days of the ED visit, assessed via electronic health record review and follow-up telephone calls. Secondary outcomes included vaccine acceptance and vaccination during the ED visit. Outcomes were also compared between study sites that had the updated COVID-19 vaccine available and those that did not.

RESULTS: Of 852 participants (median age, 47 years [IQR, 33-63 years]; 464 [54.5%] women), 247 (29.0%) were in the intervention M group, 273 (32.0%) in the intervention Q group, and 332…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 852 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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