Teaching children about how viruses spread, and how the body fights infections, can be tricky. But could a digital game help improve their understanding of immunology and vaccines?
The WHO/Europe is introducing Immune Patrol in a growing number of schools in the European region as part of a comprehensive education package. The package, developed with experts in immunology, vaccinology and education, was first launched in 2023 and has since been translated into 14 languages. The initiative has been supported by the European Union, Gavi, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary Belgium.
‘Immune Patrol doesn’t just deliver facts about vaccines and the immune system – it’s interactive, engaging and it teaches children to think critically about the sources and validity of online information,’ says Robb Butler, Director of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health at WHO/Europe. ‘This foundation will serve them well in the future as they make health-related decisions for themselves and potentially for their own children.’
The educational package, including the game, can be integrated into a country’s national primary school curricula, helping teachers meet learning goals, while children have a little fun along the way. Authorities can request translation of the package into local languages and teachers can choose the number and order of modules, adapting the offline tasks to fit the classroom context.
‘The game and assignments add an element of real-life experience and allow students to try out different problem-solving tasks to stop outbreaks through, for example, video games and digital simulation exercises without experiencing real-life consequences. It gives them an understanding of why this topic has meaning for them here and now,’ says Siff Malue Nielsen, technical officer with the vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programme, who has led the development, pilot testing and rollout of Immune Patrol in national primary education curricula.
‘The purpose is to transfer knowledge about complex concepts in a way that will lead to greater understanding and retention of the information and that will eventually have a long-lasting impact on behaviour. Immune Patrol is developed around a narrative of the students being enrolled in the Immune Patrol Academy. For them to become certified Immune Patrollers, the students must complete different tasks.’
In Kazakhstan, the package was introduced after consultation between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, the National Academy of Education, biology teachers and WHO experts. In Turkmenistan, the educational materials were produced in Turkmen and Russian, with an offline version created to ensure it would be suitable for every school in the country.
‘I really liked the module about herd immunity,’ says Zhansulu Yerubayeva, a biology teacher in Kazakhstan. ‘You press the buttons and you instantly see how infection can spread among children, among people, if they are not vaccinated.
Pilot-testing in schools has been well received by teachers and students. Schools in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Republic of Moldova have completed initial pilots, while schools in Belgium are currently testing it in collaboration with the University of Antwerp. Schools in Poland, Uzbekistan and Wales (United Kingdom) are also trying out the game.
‘Immune Patrol is a well-written program,’ says Zharkyn Tukenova, a biology teacher in Kazakhstan. ‘A lot of useful information for children aged 10-12 is quite effectively delivered.’
The WHO hosted a three-day workshop during which experts and teachers from Armenia and the Republic of Moldova shared their experiences with 40 biology teachers in Kazakhstan. A teacher in Kazakhstan also conducted online training for peers in Uzbekistan, while biology teachers in Kazakhstan opened their class to a delegation from Tajikistan so that they could observe how the modules are taught in a classroom setting.
Serious gaming goes mainstream
Several games have been developed to help improve understanding of immunology or vaccination. Antidote was first created before the pandemic but a revamped Covid-19 version was created and has been downloaded more than 50,000 times.
Some games aim to educate users on the science of infectious diseases, while others also offer training on how to cope with online misinformation about vaccines. Cranky Uncle Vaccine was developed to combat false rumours and build trust. It can be adapted to local settings – and is great fun!
Meanwhile, in Canada, I Boost Immunity uses quizzes to engage users in vaccination topics. A spin-off for schools – Kids Boost Immunity – has proven a big hit. Children have enjoyed a dose of healthy competition while expanding their knowledge, and raising funds for UNICEF.