The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that everyone over 6 months old should get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine. The flu is a serious disease with extensive cost and human implications. However, the vaccination coverage in the US is less than 50%. Each year, the flu and its complications lead to up to 226,000 hospitalization and 3,000-49,000 deaths. There is an urgent need to increase flu vaccination rates amongst various groups, especially the elderly and low-income populations.
The mPulse Flu Awareness Solution, leveraging mPulse’s context-driven mobile messaging platform, includes a series of targeted text message alerts that remind consumers to get their vaccination. These alerts are educational, based on clinical behavioral change research, and written with sensitivity to target population health literacy levels. Multiple randomized, controlled studies over the last few years have proven that text alerts that include specific health information are highly effective and increase the rate of influenza vaccination compared with usual care. One such study demonstrated that people who received a text message alert were 30% more likely to be vaccinated than those in the control group [Stockwell MS, et. al. Am J Public Health. 2014 Feb;104 Suppl 1:e7-12.]
If you are a healthcare provider or payor looking to improve flu vaccination rates in your target population, please contact us at sales@mpulsemobile.com.
About mPulse
mPulse mobilizes the consumer experience by making health care communications relevant to the modern lifestyle. The company utilizes contextual mobile technology to provide simplified, streamlined solutions that enable health partners to effectively connect with consumers in the most relevant and appropriate means. By improving communication, mPulse improves the health and wellbeing of consumers everywhere. For more information, visit mPulseMobile.com.
