Nurse’s Flu Bee Game adapted to boost take up of the COVID-19 vaccine
Corona Bee Game encourages players to learn more about COVID-19 and the vaccine by doing an online quiz
An award-winning game created by a nurse to encourage NHS staff to get vaccinated against the flu has been adapted to boost take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Corona Bee Game encourages players to learn more about the virus and the first vaccine available in the UK by doing an online quiz. It was inspired by the successful Flu Bee Game, created by nurse Joan Pons Laplana in an effort to increase the number of NHS workers getting the flu vaccination.
Mr Pons Laplana, digital senior charge nurse at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, has collaborated with educational games company Focus Games on the coronavirus version, which uses the same bee mascot and format.
A fun way to help make an informed choice on whether to get vaccinated or not
He said the aim of the game, which sees players give true or false answers to a series of questions against the clock, is to educate players, counter misinformation circulating on social media and tell people how to get vaccinated.
‘The game aims to bust those myths and answer some of the most-asked questions regarding the vaccine,’ he said. ‘It is important to make an informed choice to get vaccinated or not, and this is a fun way to do it.’
He hoped the Corona Bee Game would be as effective as its predecessor, which has won awards for patient safety and healthcare innovation and has been used by more than 30 NHS trusts and 300 care homes.
Flu Bee Game effective at addressing ‘vaccine hesitancy’
A study to be published by Queen’s University Belfast found the Flu Bee Game was particularly effective at addressing ‘vaccine hesitancy’ among those unsure about whether to get vaccinated.
A summary of that research shows that when the game was tested among nursing students most of those who said they had not intended to get vaccinated – 136 out of 161 – changed their minds after playing it.
Focus Games director and co-founder Andy Yeoman said the company was exploring how best to roll out the coronavirus version and was in discussions with some trusts acting as COVID-19 vaccination hubs as well as national bodies. He confirmed that the game would be available free to the general public.
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