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Pre-Booked Vaccination Appointments as a Nudge: Evidence from a Nationwide Intervention

Author

Listed:
  • Jakob Moeller

    (Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria)

  • Martin Halla

    (Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU)
    Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) at LISER
    Rockwool Foundation, Berlin
    Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), Vienna)

  • Tobias Thomas

    (Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), Vienna
    Graz Schumpeter Centre (GSC), University of Graz
    Duesseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE), Heinrich-Heine-University)

Abstract

We study the effect of pre-booked COVID-19 vaccination appointments using a nationwide campaign in Austria. Leveraging administrative microdata on more than 450000 initially unvaccinated adults, we exploit cross-state variation in program participation and staggered appointment timing in a difference-in-differences design. Pre-booked appointments increase vaccination on the appointment day by 0.8 percentage points (8 per 1000), with no evidence of intertemporal substitution. Effects are larger for socio-economically disadvantaged individuals and substantially weaker in areas with stronger vaccine skepticism. The findings suggest that behavioral interventions are effective when low uptake reflects frictions, but have limited impact when driven by entrenched skepticism.

Suggested Citation

  • Jakob Moeller & Martin Halla & Tobias Thomas, 2026. "Pre-Booked Vaccination Appointments as a Nudge: Evidence from a Nationwide Intervention," Graz Economics Papers 2026-10, University of Graz, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:grz:wpaper:2026-10
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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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