Focusing on the non-health benefits of getting a COVID-19 booster could make vaccine messaging more persuasive, according to Australian research. 

In a new study, a research team recruited about 450 people to view different online COVID-19 booster vaccine messages; one that simply provided information about booster eligibility and four that incorporated different methods of persuasion.

These four were focused on the personal health benefits, the community health benefits, the 'personal agency' of taking control of health, and the non-health benefits of vaccination such as access to travel. 

Surveying the participants on their vaccine beliefs and intentions after viewing the messages, the researchers say the non-health benefits message was most effective, while the personal agency message appeared ineffective.

The study is accessible here.