Anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines reduces willingness to socially distance.

Details

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State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: Not specified
Serval ID
serval:BIB_5E4747414C82
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines reduces willingness to socially distance.
Journal
Journal of health economics
Author(s)
Andersson O., Campos-Mercade P., Meier A.N., Wengström E.
ISSN
1879-1646 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0167-6296
Publication state
Published
Issued date
12/2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
80
Pages
102530
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
We investigate how the anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines affects voluntary social distancing. In a large-scale preregistered survey experiment with a representative sample, we study whether providing information about the safety, effectiveness, and availability of COVID-19 vaccines affects the willingness to comply with public health guidelines. We find that vaccine information reduces peoples' voluntary social distancing, adherence to hygiene guidelines, and their willingness to stay at home. Getting positive information on COVID-19 vaccines induces people to believe in a swifter return to normal life. The results indicate an important behavioral drawback of successful vaccine development: An increased focus on vaccines can lower compliance with public health guidelines and accelerate the spread of infectious disease. The results imply that, as vaccinations roll out and the end of a pandemic feels closer, policies aimed at increasing social distancing will be less effective, and stricter policies might be required.
Keywords
COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccines, Humans, Pandemics, SARS-CoV-2, Vaccines, Economic epidemiology, Information, Public health communication, Social distancing, Vaccination, Vaccine information
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
04/10/2021 10:33
Last modification date
09/08/2024 14:53
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