Universally Recommended Vaccinations: Client or Family Incentive Rewards
Client or family incentive rewards are used to motivate people to obtain recommended vaccinations. Rewards may be monetary or non-monetary, and they may be given to clients or families for keeping an appointment, receiving a vaccination, returning for a vaccination series, or producing documentation of vaccination status. Rewards are typically small (e.g., food vouchers, gift cards, lottery prizes, baby products). Incentive reward programs are distinct from interventions that increase access to vaccination services (e.g., the provision of transportation or child care, the administration of vaccinations at no or reduced cost to clients).
Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends client or family incentive rewards based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness in increasing vaccination rates in children and adults. Evidence on effectiveness is considered sufficient based on results from six studies that evaluated incentive awards alone or in combination with additional interventions.
Task Force Finding & Rationale Statement
The Task Force recommendation was made in February 2011. It is based on evidence from a previously completed review of Client or Family Incentives (search period 1980-1997) and an updated review (search period 1997-2009). Updates of reviews are conducted to incorporate more recent evidence.
These reviews were conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to vaccinations to prevent diseases. Please subscribe 
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Learn more about the original review and Task Force finding in the Vaccinations to Prevent Diseases section of our publications page.
Publications
The findings and results of this systematic review have not been published. Read other Community Guide publications about Vaccinations to Prevent Diseases in our library, including articles about the previous review. You may also subscribe to be notified as new materials on this topic become available.
Disclaimer
The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.
Sample Citation
The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Universally recommended vaccinations: client or family incentive rewards (abbreviated).www.thecommunityguide.org/vaccines/universally/IncentiveRewards.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.
Review Completed: February 2011
- Page last reviewed: May 11, 2011
- Page last updated: December 27, 2011
- Content source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services
