The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates
Abstract Background After the emergence of the first vaccines against the COVID-19, public health authorities have promoted mass vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the effects of the disease. Vaccination rates have differed between countries, depending on supply (availability o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Health Economics Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-022-00415-6 |
| _version_ | 1797958799467741184 |
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| author | Luis Á. Hierro David Patiño Pedro Atienza Antonio J. Garzón David Cantarero |
| author_facet | Luis Á. Hierro David Patiño Pedro Atienza Antonio J. Garzón David Cantarero |
| author_sort | Luis Á. Hierro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background After the emergence of the first vaccines against the COVID-19, public health authorities have promoted mass vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the effects of the disease. Vaccination rates have differed between countries, depending on supply (availability of resources) and demand (altruism and resistance to vaccination) factors. Methods This work considers the hypothesis that individuals’ health altruism has been an important factor to explain the different levels of vaccination between countries, using the number of transplants as a proxy for altruism. Taking European Union’s countries to remove, as far as possible, supply factors that might affect vaccination, we carry out cross-sectional regressions for the most favorable date of the vaccination process (maximum vaccination speed) and for each month during the vaccination campaign. Results Our findings confirm that altruism has affected vaccination rates against the COVID-19. We find a direct relationship between transplants rates (proxy variable) and vaccination rates during periods in which the decision to be vaccinated depended on the individual’s choice, without supply restrictions. The results show that other demand factors have worked against vaccination: political polarization and belonging to the group of countries of the former Eastern bloc. Conclusions Altruism is a useful tool to define future vaccination strategies, since it favors the individuals’ awareness for vaccination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:24:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d08bf17221145228f5a45f7e17290d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2191-1991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:24:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Economics Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d08bf17221145228f5a45f7e17290d92023-01-08T12:04:37ZengBMCHealth Economics Review2191-19912023-01-0113111210.1186/s13561-022-00415-6The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination ratesLuis Á. Hierro0David Patiño1Pedro Atienza2Antonio J. Garzón3David Cantarero4Department of Economics and Economic History, University of SevillaDepartment of Economics and Economic History, University of SevillaDepartment of Economics and Economic History, University of SevillaDepartment of Economics and Economic History, University of SevillaDepartment of Economics, Universidad de Cantabria, Research Group on Health Economics and Health Services Management—Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL)Abstract Background After the emergence of the first vaccines against the COVID-19, public health authorities have promoted mass vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity and reduce the effects of the disease. Vaccination rates have differed between countries, depending on supply (availability of resources) and demand (altruism and resistance to vaccination) factors. Methods This work considers the hypothesis that individuals’ health altruism has been an important factor to explain the different levels of vaccination between countries, using the number of transplants as a proxy for altruism. Taking European Union’s countries to remove, as far as possible, supply factors that might affect vaccination, we carry out cross-sectional regressions for the most favorable date of the vaccination process (maximum vaccination speed) and for each month during the vaccination campaign. Results Our findings confirm that altruism has affected vaccination rates against the COVID-19. We find a direct relationship between transplants rates (proxy variable) and vaccination rates during periods in which the decision to be vaccinated depended on the individual’s choice, without supply restrictions. The results show that other demand factors have worked against vaccination: political polarization and belonging to the group of countries of the former Eastern bloc. Conclusions Altruism is a useful tool to define future vaccination strategies, since it favors the individuals’ awareness for vaccination.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-022-00415-6AltruismVaccinesCOVID-19; hesitancyExternalityHerd immunityPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Luis Á. Hierro David Patiño Pedro Atienza Antonio J. Garzón David Cantarero The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates Health Economics Review Altruism Vaccines COVID-19; hesitancy Externality Herd immunity Public health |
| title | The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates |
| title_full | The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates |
| title_fullStr | The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates |
| title_short | The effect of altruism on COVID-19 vaccination rates |
| title_sort | effect of altruism on covid 19 vaccination rates |
| topic | Altruism Vaccines COVID-19; hesitancy Externality Herd immunity Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13561-022-00415-6 |
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