ChatGPT could help to increase vaccine uptake by debunking myths around the jab, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics. The researchers asked an artificial intelligence chatbot, called ChatGPT, the top 50 most frequently asked COVID-19 vaccine questions, including queries based on myths and fake stories. The results showed that ChatGPT scored an average of 9 out of 10 for accuracy, providing reliable non-technical information to the public. However, there are concerns about the technology, such as ChatGPT changing its answers in certain situations.
The study was led by experts from the Genpo B Research Group based at the Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria (IDIS) Hospital Clinica Universitario of Santiago de Compostela. They found that ChatGPT constructs a narrative in line with available scientific evidence, debunking myths circulating on social media. The language used by ChatGPT is not too technical, making it easily understandable to the public without losing scientific rigor.
While ChatGPT cannot substitute an expert or scientific evidence, it can serve as a reliable source of information to the public. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019. Misinformation spread via social media during the pandemic contributed to public mistrust of COVID-19 vaccination.
The study authors, including researchers from the Hospital Clinica Universitario de Santiago, designated as a WHO Vaccine Safety Collaborating Center, aimed to test ChatGPT’s ability to provide accurate information about COVID vaccine safety. The study covered three themes: misconceptions around safety, false contraindications, and true contraindications. Experts analyzed the responses and rated them for veracity and precision against current scientific evidence and recommendations from WHO and other international agencies.
The study found that most questions were answered correctly, with an average score of 9 out of 10. However, there were some gaps in the information provided by ChatGPT. It provided correct answers to queries based on genuine vaccine myths and those considered false or true contraindications. The researchers acknowledge the downsides of ChatGPT in providing vaccine information, such as the potential for providing answers not in line with scientific evidence.
In conclusion, ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in increasing vaccine uptake by debunking myths and providing accurate information to the public. However, caution should be exercised in its use, as it can be manipulated to provide desired answers that may not align with scientific evidence. Further research and development are needed to improve the technology and ensure its reliability.
