Open AccessMessages that increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance: Evidence from online experiments in six Latin American countries
Author(s) -
Pablo Argote Tironi,
Elena Barham,
Sarah Zukerman Daly,
Julian E. Gerez,
John Marshall,
Oscar Pocasangre
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0259059
Subject(s) - herd immunity , conformity , social approval , incentive , latin americans , covid-19 , vaccination , limiting , social distance , environmental health , medicine , immunology , psychology , political science , social psychology , economics , mechanical engineering , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , microeconomics , engineering
As safe and effective vaccines become widely available, attaining herd immunity and limiting the spread of COVID-19 will depend on individuals choosing to vaccinate—and doing so quickly enough to outpace mutations. Using online surveys conducted across six Latin American countries in January 2021, we experimentally assess messages designed to counteract informational deficiencies and collective action problems that may drive hesitancy. We first find that basic vaccine information persuades around 8% of hesitant individuals to become willing to vaccinate, reduces intended wait to vaccinate by 0.4 months, and increases willingness to encourage others to vaccinate. Rather than facilitating free riding, learning, or social conformity, additional information about others’ behavior increases vaccine acceptance when respondents expect herd immunity will be achieved. Finally, priming the social approval benefits of vaccinating also increases vaccine acceptance. These results suggest that providing information and shaping social expectations and incentives could both significantly increase vaccine uptake.