This new study will test messages that work as an “information vaccine” to build resistance to misinformation that young women may hear about the HIV vaccine. This will be a two-arm randomised controlled trial of HIV vaccine messages informed by inoculation theory with a behavioural economics boost among AGYW in South Africa.
Mirroring a vaccine trial, our behavioural trial will evaluate the efficacy, safety, durability, and generalised immunity effects of inoculation messages that are boosted with behavioral economics insights. We will also evaluate differential responses to the messages by important sub-groups of AGYW. This proof-of-concept project has the potential to identify innovative communication strategies to build resistance to emerging and evolving HIV vaccine misinformation. Results from the study will advance the science of HIV vaccine demand creation and inoculation-theory based approaches to vaccine communication.
