80,000 Hours Podcast

#113 – Varsha Venugopal on using gossip to help vaccinate every child in India

Oct 18, 2021
Varsha Venugopal, Co-founder of Suvita and former World Bank employee, dives into the pressing issue of child vaccinations in India. She reveals that 80% of undervaccinated children receive some shots but often miss crucial ones due to life's distractions. Varsha advocates for using local gossips as community influencers, alongside innovative SMS reminders, to boost vaccination rates. She discusses behavioral economics and the simple nudges that can significantly enhance parental engagement in immunization efforts, driving home the need for effective, evidence-based interventions.
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INSIGHT

Unvaccinated Children and Vaccination Impact

  • 19 million children miss basic vaccinations annually, with one child dying every minute from preventable diseases.
  • There are also significant social, economic, and developmental benefits to vaccination, with a $60 return for every $1 invested.
INSIGHT

India's Vaccination Challenge: Demand, Not Supply

  • India has a high number of unvaccinated children despite a robust vaccine supply, indicating a demand-side problem.
  • This differs from other regions where supply chain issues hinder access to vaccines.
INSIGHT

Not Anti-Vax, Just Busy

  • Most Indian parents are not anti-vaccine, as evidenced by high first-dose rates, but struggle with completing the full schedule.
  • Practical barriers like work, travel, and childcare contribute to this drop-off.
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