Vaccine hesitancy has become a significant barrier to achieving global immunization goals. According to the WHO’s “3C” model—Confidence, Convenience, and Complacency—vaccine hesitancy stems not only from concerns over safety and effectiveness but also from broader issues such as limited access to reliable health information, cultural influences, and varying levels of health literacy. In many settings, conventional health education struggles to address these complex challenges, particularly among vulnerable populations. In recent years, Conversational AI, powered by large language models (LLMs), has emerged as an innovative approach to provide real-time, personalized health communication and correct vaccine misinformation.
Evidence from China: AI Chatbots Improve HPV Vaccine Uptake
In 2025, a large-scale cluster randomized trial led by researchers from Fudan University evaluated an AI-based chatbot aimed at promoting HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in China (Hou et al., 2025). The chatbot, built on GPT-4 technology, integrated a knowledge base aligned with Chinese national health guidelines, covering seven core areas including HPV epidemiology, vaccine safety, immunization schedules, adverse event monitoring, health economics, service navigation, and rumor rebuttal.
The system offered two interactive modes: an “expert” role providing evidence-based scientific responses and a “nurse” role delivering motivational, empathetic communication. Deployed via WeChat and web platforms, the intervention reached over 2,600 parents across urban and rural regions. Results showed a significant increase in HPV vaccine uptake (7.1% vs. 1.8%) and healthcare-seeking behavior in the intervention group, with rural areas showing the greatest improvements. High-frequency chatbot users and those interacting with the “nurse” mode demonstrated stronger vaccination intent.
Opportunities, Limitations, and Future Outlook
Global research highlights the potential of AI chatbots to improve vaccine literacy, reduce misinformation, and enhance decision-making (Cosma et al., 2025; Passanante et al., 2023). However, existing tools remain in early stages, with basic functions and inconsistent impacts on actual vaccination rates. Technical barriers such as limited language support, algorithm transparency, and access inequality persist. Ethical concerns, particularly the risk of misinformation amplification and trust erosion, require close attention.
Experts emphasize the need for large-scale, high-quality trials, customized content for diverse populations, and robust human oversight mechanisms for AI tools. With responsible and ethical implementation, Conversational AI could become a strategic tool to strengthen vaccine confidence and advance global immunization goals.
More can be found in these articles:
1. Hou Z, Wu Z, Qu Z, Gong L, Peng H, Jit M, et al. A vaccine chatbot intervention for parents to improve HPV vaccination uptake among middle school girls: a cluster randomized trial. Nat Med. 2025 Apr 7.
2.Passanante A, Pertwee E, Lin L, Lee KY, Wu JT, Larson HJ. Conversational AI and Vaccine Communication: Systematic Review of the Evidence. J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e42758.
3.Cosma C, Radi A, Cattano R, Zanobini P, Bonaccorsi G, Lorini C, Del Riccio M. Exploring Chatbot contributions to enhancing vaccine literacy and uptake: A scoping review of the literature. Vaccine. 2025;44:126559.
Content Editor: Ruitong Li
Page Editor: Ruitong Li
