Vaccines have been heralded as one of the greatest public health achievements of
the 20th century. Historically many new vaccines have focused on younger children,
yet in the past few years, three new vaccines targeting pertussis, meningitis,
and the human papilloma virus have been introduced to the routine immunization
schedule for adolescents. The Text4Health-Adolescent program used text messages
to help remind parents when their adolescent child was due for specific vaccinations.
In the first study, parents of adolescent girls who received the first or second
dose of the HPV vaccine could sign up to have text message reminders sent to their
cell phone when their daughter was due for the second or third doses in the series.
In the second study, parents of adolescents who need either the vaccine against
whooping cough (pertussis)or meningitis were texted.
The Text4Health program was selected to be part of the Promising Practice Network.
The Promising Practices Network (PPN) is a user-friendly website operated by the
RAND Corporation that provides evidence-based information on child, youth, and family policy.