By The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has introduced a mobile app called the “Cranky Uncle Vaccine Game” to empower individuals with the ability to recognize misinformation.
Additionally, the app will help users comprehend vaccine safety, effectiveness, and significance, while also exposing deceptive tactics employed in science denial.
Named “Leveraging Technology to Combat Vaccine Misinformation,” the initiative aims to tackle the widespread dissemination of misinformation and disinformation concerning vaccines, which poses significant risks to public health.
The program was organized by the GHS in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Mobile app
The app was developed by UNICEF in collaboration with the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Irimi, and Dr. John Cook, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
Grounded in the science of inoculation theory, the game serves as a tool to enhance public resilience against misinformation. It integrates evidence, humor, cartoons, and critical thinking to familiarize players with various disinformation techniques commonly employed in vaccine misinformation worldwide.
The game revolves around two main characters: a skeptical uncle and a health worker.
The skeptical uncle employs deceptive tactics like “conspiracy theory” and “fake scientist” to dissuade people from vaccination.
The health worker serves as the “trusted messenger,” countering these tactics by providing scientific, verifiable facts that support vaccination and emphasize its importance.
Throughout the game, players are guided by the cranky uncle character, who teaches them various misinformation techniques, or “tricks.”
The game is accessible on both the Play and iOS app stores.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye stated:
“In recent years, we have witnessed the alarming spread of misinformation surrounding vaccines, threatening not only individual health but also the fabric of our society”.
He highlighted that digital technology offers a platform to engage and educate the public about the significance of vaccines and the risks associated with misinformation.
The Director-General encouraged the extensive utilization of the app ahead of upcoming vaccination days and campaigns.
Furthermore, Mabel Kissiwah Asafo, the acting Director of the Health Promotion Division at GHS, urged everyone to collaborate with her department in combating misinformation and enhancing vaccine uptake.
Sonya Sagan, Head of the Social and Behaviour Change Unit (SBC) at UNICEF Ghana, characterized the app as one of several innovative tools employed by UNICEF worldwide to counter misinformation and disinformation while promoting immunization uptake.
She further mentioned that the unit had assisted the GHS in establishing a national misinformation task force aimed at tackling misinformation. Additionally, they collaborated on developing a national strategy for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Furthermore, they utilized Talkwalker, a social listening tool leveraging artificial intelligence for monitoring online feedback.
She mentioned that they had also investigated alternative channels for individuals to engage with the cranky uncle character. These include a voice-based app called Agoo, available in six local languages, as well as a WhatsApp chatbot named U-Report. Moreover, they utilized the Internet of Good Things platform and introduced paper-based resources like flipbooks and flashcards.
