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WHO approves? Relative trust, the WHO, and China’s COVID-19 vaccines

Author

Listed:
  • Greg Chih-Hsin Sheen

    (National Cheng Kung University)

  • Hans H. Tung

    (National Taiwan University)

  • Chien-Huei Wu

    (Academia Sinica)

  • Wen-Chin Wu

    (Academia Sinica)

Abstract

This paper aims to answer a general question: whether an international organization (IO) is able to shape public opinion in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic took hold in early 2020, countries across the globe have switched gear from prevention to vaccination. Most had to not only secure a sufficient supply of vaccines, but also to curb vaccine hesitancy among their populations. Can endorsement by an international organization like the World Health Organization (WHO) enhance a vaccine’s acceptability? Based on a survey experiment conducted in Taiwan, our study leverages the special relationship between China and Taiwan to show that WHO endorsement can induce acceptance of Chinese vaccines among Taiwanese people. However, the effect is found to be contextual in the sense that it only works when people’s trust in the WHO is higher than their trust in the vaccine’s country of origin. Our study not only contributes to the literature of IO legitimacy by empirically showing IOs’ causal effects on public opinion, but also sheds light on how a vaccine’s credibility can be enhanced to promote vaccination uptake.

Suggested Citation

  • Greg Chih-Hsin Sheen & Hans H. Tung & Chien-Huei Wu & Wen-Chin Wu, 2023. "WHO approves? Relative trust, the WHO, and China’s COVID-19 vaccines," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 499-521, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revint:v:18:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s11558-022-09481-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11558-022-09481-1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International organization; World Health Organization; Trust; Credibility; Endorsement; COVID-19 vaccines;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F50 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - General
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • H57 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Procurement
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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