Flu Shot Text Reminders Help Parents Get The Job Done

Children can be especially prone to the flu; that's why annual immunizations are so important. However, between soccer practice, school and piano lessons, parents may not always remember to pencil in their child's flu shot.

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics shows that text message reminders were found to be incredibly helpful when it came to getting this essential shot covered.

For the study, researchers at Columbia University identified 600 children at community clinics in New York who needed two doses of the flu vaccine. The parents of the children received at paper note at the first visit telling them when they needed to return for the second shot dose. Yet the third of the parents also received reminders via text message, while another third received both texts with both reminders and educational information regarding the flu vaccine. All families involved with Latino and low-income.

About three quarters of the parents who received the informational texts brought their children back for the second dose compared to 67 percent who got the basic text reminders. Another 57 who received the written reminder did.

Researchers said they believe that the texts reminders with educational information worked so well because it helped parents understand the importance of urgency and getting their kids the proper care. Furthermore, it helped them know that more than one dose is needed to finish the vaccination.

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