Game On: Leveraging the Cranky Uncle App to Tackle Vaccine Misinformation in Ghana

The COVID infodemic has resulted in an unprecedented surge of misinformation, which has extended to impact other vaccines and created significant challenges to public health and safety. Addressing this misinformation requires comprehensive strategies that involve debunking falsehoods, promoting accurate information, building trust in vaccines and public health institutions, and fostering critical thinking skills among the population. 

Studies have shown that using games can be an effective strategy for promoting accurate information and learning improvement. By merging principles of gamification with critical thinking, the Cranky Uncle Vaccine game explores the potential to enhance the way we spread information and promote fact-checking behaviors among the public. 

UNICEF, in collaboration with IRIMI, FactSpace West Africa, the Ministry of Health (MoH) will officially launch the app in Ghana in April 2024.  

The Cranky Uncle Vaccine app, was designed and deployed in East and West Africa, incorporating elements such as quizzes, challenges, and rewards to engage participants in an immersive learning experience. 

Through co-design workshops with health workers and young people, the game content was carefully curated to reflect the cultural context in Ghana. 1,000 young participants were selected from institutions in Ghana and furnished with the app for testing. 

The app aims to explore the potential impact of gamification to foster community resilience, promote fact-checking behaviors, and reduce the amplification of misinformation through social networks. By engaging users in immersive and enjoyable experiences, gamification not only empowers individuals to distinguish between credible and false information but also cultivates a sense of collective responsibility in curbing the spread of misinformation. 

The results of this “soft launch” showed a positive uptick in the attitudes towards getting vaccinated, including the importance of getting vaccinated and the likelihood of recommending the vaccine to their family members and peers.

As the world navigates the complex landscape of global health crises, leveraging gamification emerges as a viable strategy to fortify public resilience against the pervasive threat of misinformation. This app will help to contribute valuable insights to the ongoing discourse on effective communication strategies in times of crisis.

About Cranky Uncle

Cranky Uncle employs cartoons, humor, and critical thinking to unveil the deceptive tactics of science denial. Play the Cranky Uncle Vaccine game and learn to spot these tactics to avoid being fooled! Discover the scientific facts on vaccines and become more resilient to vaccine misinformation.

Play the Ghana Cranky Uncle Vaccine game here.