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Public support for global vaccine sharing in the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Ferdinand Geissler
  • Felix Hartmann
  • Macartan Humphreys
  • Heike Klüver
  • Johannes Giesecke

Abstract

By September 2021 an estimated 32% of the global population was fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but the global distribution of vaccines was extremely unequal, with 72% or more vaccinated in the ten countries with the highest vaccination rates and less than 2% in the ten countries with the lowest vaccination rates. Given that governments need to secure public support for investments in global vaccine sharing, it is important to understand the levels and drivers of public support for international vaccine solidarity. Using a factorial experiment administered to more than 10,000 online survey respondents in Germany in 2021, we demonstrate that the majority of German citizens are against global inequalities in vaccine distribution. Respondents are supportive of substantive funding amounts, on the order of the most generous contributions provided to date, though still below amounts that are likely needed for a successful global campaign. Public preferences appear largely to be driven by intrinsic concern for the welfare of global populations though are in part explained by material considerations—particularly risks of continued health threats from a failure to vaccinate globally. Strategic considerations are of more limited importance in shaping public opinion; in particular we see no evidence for free riding on contributions by other states. Finally, drawing on an additional survey experiment, we show that there is scope to use information campaigns highlighting international health externalities to augment public support for global campaigns.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferdinand Geissler & Felix Hartmann & Macartan Humphreys & Heike Klüver & Johannes Giesecke, 2022. "Public support for global vaccine sharing in the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Germany," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(12), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0278337
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278337
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ruchir Agarwal & Ms. Gita Gopinath, 2021. "A Proposal to End the COVID-19 Pandemic," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 2021/004, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Urs Fischbacher & Simon Gachter, 2010. "Social Preferences, Beliefs, and the Dynamics of Free Riding in Public Goods Experiments," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(1), pages 541-556, March.
    3. Peter A. Diamond & Jerry A. Hausman, 1994. "Contingent Valuation: Is Some Number Better than No Number?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(4), pages 45-64, Fall.
    4. Martin F. Hellwig, 2003. "Public-Good Provision with Many Participants," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(3), pages 589-614.
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    Cited by:

    1. Humphreys, Macartan, 2022. "Das globale Impfversagen: Die Frage des Patentschutzes muss neu diskutiert werden," WZB-Mitteilungen: Quartalsheft für Sozialforschung, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, issue 175 (1/22, pages 30-33.
    2. Florian Stoeckel & Jack Thompson & Paula Szewach & Sabrina Stöckli & Matthew Barnfield & Joseph B Phillips & Benjamin Lyons & Vittorio Mérola & Jason Reifler, 2023. "Correlates of support for international vaccine solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional survey evidence from Germany," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, June.

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