Charity Science Health (CSH), a Development Consortium initiative, is an evidence-based GiveWell incubated charity focused on saving and improving the most lives per dollar spent. After reviewing over 30 different interventions we concluded that mobile vaccination reminders are one of the best ways to save lives for every dollar spent. Mobile vaccination reminders have shown to increase vaccination rates by 4-17.5 percentage points, it only costs a few cents to send mothers SMS reminders, and the program is easy to scale into existing health systems and other NGO programs.
CORE PRINCIPLES
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cost-effective |
evidence-based |
scalable |
our approach |
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Vaccine reminders cost only pennies per phone number acquired while increasing vaccination rates by 4-17.5 percentage points. GiveWell’s calculations suggest that vaccine reminders have similar cost-effectiveness to the most cost-effective interventions currently known.
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Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted on immunization SMS reminders in low- and middle-income countries show a positive impact. We are committed to test the effectiveness of our own program through a rigorous evaluation. Read more about the evidence here.
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Of the 20 million Indian children born each year, only about 65% receive all recommended vaccinations by age two. Text-message vaccine and health reminders could reach millions of people every year. Read more about our current reach here.
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Our approach is to use existing health systems as much as possible to sign up caregivers and pregnant mothers. We ensure that health reminders are integrated into state government’s systems or local NGOs’ programs so that they are owned and sustained. Find out who our partners are here.
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GiveWell has independently reviewed and found SMS reminders for immunization an effective intervention. You can read the full report here.
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