Could we expect a higher vaccine uptake if vaccination appointments are no longer necessary? A campaign in neighbourhoods where vaccination rates were lagging sought to test whether emphasising convenience led to an increase in the number of administered vaccinations, by offering walk-in vaccination without an appointment. This indeed proved to be the case. Furthermore, getting a COVID-19 vaccine on a walk-in basis has become popular, along with the platform PrikkenZonderAfspraak.

Why this experiment was conducted: sub-optimal vaccine uptake
In June 2021, COVID-19 vaccines were available to everyone. Although vaccination invitations had been sent to all age cohorts, vaccination rates remained too low to handle the surge in infections that was anticipated in the autumn of that year. This was despite the fact that vaccine acceptance in society was greater than the actual number of administered vaccinations. Generative research by UX researchers and behavioural research carried out by the Behavioural Unit of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) showed that there were barriers to receiving the vaccine, including the need to make an appointment or travel to a vaccination sites of the Regional Public Health Services (GGDs).

Type of intervention: Walk-in vaccination without an appointment
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the RIVM and several GGDs decided to offer the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine without the need to schedule an appointment. The narrative that was conveyed was that every jab counted, and the PrikkenZonderAfspraak platform was launched. The platform brought together all the GGDs' vaccination sites.

Method used: intervention/control design
To test the effectiveness of providing COVID-19 vaccinations without an appointment, research was conducted in the 400 postcode areas in the Netherlands with the lowest vaccination uptake at the time of testing. These areas were divided into two groups: the intervention group, which received the campaign materials, and the control group, which received no campaign materials. The intervention group consisted of 200 postcode areas with the very lowest vaccination uptake, while the control group included the remaining 200 postcode areas. Measurements were performed to evaluate whether more vaccinations were administered in the intervention group than in the control group.

Result obtained: more vaccinations administered
In the areas covered by the campaign, more people were vaccinated and the proportion of individuals who were previously unvaccinated and who now received a vaccine without an appointment was relatively high. Removing the barrier of making an appointment proved to be an effective intervention. This can be seen in the percentages of previously unvaccinated individuals who received a vaccine without an appointment: 2.4% for the intervention group, compared to 2.0% for the control group. The differences are relatively small, but even small percentages can make a difference, particularly in the context of a health crisis and in the acute phase of the pandemic that was being experienced at the time. Being vaccinated against COVID-19 greatly reduced the risk of becoming seriously ill. Also, the number of hospital admissions affected the burden on healthcare resources, and hence the measures that were needed on a nationwide scale.

Impact: more people reached, walk-in vaccination without an appointment popular
The campaign had the effect of encouraging more people to get vaccinated. In light of this positive effect, the campaign was extended to 800 postcode areas, where a similar effect was also recorded. Moreover, an increasing number of GGD sites joined the platform and the popularity of walk-in vaccination without an appointment rose, including in the subsequent booster and repeat vaccination dose campaigns. Over 50% of people received a booster vaccination without an appointment when this option was offered. The campaign's strategy of making it easier to get vaccinated has proved successful. It should be noted that there were other neighbourhood-oriented interventions and national approaches taking place at the same time, including vaccination buses, role models and a multilingual campaign. As a result, the identified effects cannot be attributed solely to the campaign.

Source: https://www.binnl.nl/home+-+en/knowledge/publications/bin+nl+publications/HandlerDownloadFiles.ashx?idnv=2719979