HPV vaccine uptake increases with the help of AI chatbot

HPV vaccine uptake increases with the help of AI chatbot

The first attempt at an AI (artificial intelligence) chatbot designed to inform parents about the HPV vaccine has shown to increase vaccination uptake and engagement with healthcare professionals.

Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most preventable cancers, yet kills over 340,000 people annually. China accounts for 22.8% of global cases, with vaccine coverage remaining low.

The 24/7 chatbot is designed to provide parents with trusted vaccine information in a user-friendly manner by simulating human conversations and accessing the parent's frequently asked questions about HPV, vaccine safety, eligibility, side effects, cost and where to access services.

The school-based randomized controlled trial followed a total of 2,671 parents of girls ages 12 to 15 weeks for two weeks after being randomly assigned to receive either usual care (standard health promotion of the HPV vaccine) or the chatbot intervention. Parents of children in 180 classes were enrolled, spanning megacity, urban, and rural settings in Shanghai Province and Anhui, China.

The study was conducted under the Moonrise Initiative, a pioneering effort that used artificial intelligence to promote women's health and well-being. The initiative is led by the Innohk Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D²4H) and the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong, together with the Vaccine Confidence Project™ at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in collaboration with Fudan University in Shanghai, China. This international consortium brings together leading experts in digital health, behavioral science and epidemiology to address pressing global challenges at the intersection of technology, trust and women's well-being.

The results, published inNatural medicineSuggest that interaction with the AI ​​tool can influence vaccination behavior. Girls were three times more likely to have their HPV vaccination scheduled or received when their parents interacted with the chatbot, compared to those who only received routine health promotion (7.1% and 1.8%, respectively). Around 49.1% of parents in the chatbot group also consulted with a health professional about the vaccine, compared to 17.6% of parents in the control group.

The impact was particularly pronounced in rural areas, where parents in the chatbot group were 8.81 times more likely to initiate vaccination than those who received standard information.

Dr. Leesa Lin, senior author and associate professor at LSHTM and D²4H, said: "This is one of several real-world chatbot trials we are running globally. What is unique here is the focus on equity - this intervention was designed not just for scale, but to address these too often overlooked, particularly women's health."

Providing a scalable, trusted solution to public questions about vaccines is what global health innovation should strive for. This study provides a replicable approach to address questions and concerns raised by the public - challenges faced worldwide. “

Professor Heidi Larson, founding director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at LSHTM

Professor Joseph Wu, Chief Executive of D²4H and Sir Robert Kotewall Professor of Public Health at HKU, said: "This study shows how scientific rigor and digital innovation can drive immediate, measurable change - particularly in moments of public health. This initiative demonstrates the power of AI to not only reduce personalized care.

In China, structural barriers, particularly high pocket costs and limited supply of the recommended HPV vaccine, play an important role in limiting uptake, even among parents willing to be vaccinated. The team emphasizes that issues such as affordability, long wait times and uneven access often have a greater impact on behavior, particularly in rural and lower-income settings.

The research team is now working to scale the chatbot in other countries, including Japan, where HPV vaccine hesitancy has long been a problem. While the initial intervention focused on adolescent girls, the team can also be adapted for parents of boys, aligning with global gender HPV vaccination trends.

The chatbot model is also being adapted for broader health challenges, including mental health, maternal and child health, and pandemic preparedness.

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