COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in eight European countries: Prevalence, determinants, and heterogeneity

Janina I. Steinert, Henrike Sternberg, Hannah Prince, Barbara Fasolo, Matteo M. Galizzi, Tim Büthe, Giuseppe A. Veltri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examine heterogeneity in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy across eight European countries. We reveal striking differences across countries, ranging from 6.4% of adults in Spain to 61.8% in Bulgaria reporting being hesitant. We experimentally assess the effectiveness of different messages designed to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Receiving messages emphasizing either the medical benefits or the hedonistic benefits of vaccination significantly increases COVID-19 vaccination willingness in Germany, whereas highlighting privileges contingent on holding a vaccination certificate increases vaccination willingness in both Germany and the United Kingdom. No message has significant positive effects in any other country. Machine learning–based heterogeneity analyses reveal that treatment effects are smaller or even negative in settings marked by high conspiracy beliefs and low health literacy. In contrast, trust in government increases treatment effects in some groups. The heterogeneity in vaccine hesitancy and responses to different messages suggests that health authorities should avoid one-size-fits-all vaccination campaigns.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereabm9825
JournalScience Advances
Volume8
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022

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