Correlates of support for international vaccine solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional survey evidence from Germany

Stoeckel, Florian; Thompson, Jack; Szewach, Paula; Stöckli, Sabrina; Barnfield, Matthew; Phillips, Joseph B.; Lyons, Benjamin; Mérola, Vittorio; Reifler, Jason

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents of high-income countries (HICs) were eligible for COVID-19 vaccine boosters, while many residents of lower-income countries (LICs) had not yet received a first dose. HICs made some efforts to contribute to COVID-19 vaccination efforts in LICs, but these efforts were limited in scale. A new literature discusses the normative importance of an international redistribution of vaccines. Our analysis contributes an empirical perspective on the willingness of citizens in a HIC to contribute to such efforts (which we term international vaccine solidarity). We analyse the levels and predictors of international vaccine solidarity. We surveyed a representative sample of German adults (n = 2019) who participated in a two-wave YouGov online survey (w1: Sep 13–21, 2021 and w2: Oct 4–13, 2021). International vaccine solidarity is measured by asking respondents preferences for sharing vaccine supplies internationally versus using that supply as boosters for the domestic population. We examine a set of pre-registered hypotheses. Almost half of the respondents in our sample (48%) prioritize giving doses to citizens in less developed countries. A third of respondents (33%) prefer to use available doses as boosters domestically, and a fifth of respondents (19%) did not report a preference. In line with our hypotheses, respondents higher in cosmopolitanism and empathy, and those who support domestic redistribution exhibit more support for international dose-sharing. Older respondents (who might be more at risk) do not consistently show less support for vaccine solidarity. These results help us to get a better understanding of the way citizens’ form preferences about a mechanism that redistributes medical supplies internationally during a global crisis.

Citation

Stoeckel, F., Thompson, J., Szewach, P., Stöckli, S., Barnfield, M., Phillips, J. B., …Reifler, J. (2023). Correlates of support for international vaccine solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional survey evidence from Germany. PLoS ONE, 18(6), Article e0287257. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287257

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 1, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Deposit Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Journal: PLOS ONE
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: e0287257
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287257
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2256939