Vaccination nudges: A study of pre-booked COVID-19 vaccinations in Sweden

TL;DR

This study evaluates how pre-booked vaccination appointments via mailed letters increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake among 16-17-year-olds in Uppsala, Sweden, demonstrating an effective nudging strategy for low-risk populations.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that pre-booked appointments significantly boost vaccination rates among adolescents, highlighting a practical nudging intervention during a public health campaign.

Findings

Higher vaccination rates in Uppsala compared to control regions

Pre-booked appointments effectively increased vaccine uptake

Strategy useful for populations with low perceived risk

Abstract

A nudge changes people's actions without removing their options or altering their incentives. During the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Swedish Region of Uppsala sent letters with pre-booked appointments to inhabitants aged 16-17 instead of opening up manual appointment booking. Using regional and municipal vaccination data, we document a higher vaccine uptake among 16- to 17-year-olds in Uppsala compared to untreated control regions (constructed using the synthetic control method as well as neighboring municipalities). The results highlight pre-booked appointments as a strategy for increasing vaccination rates in populations with low perceived risk.