The role of generalized trust in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

ABSTRACT: Immunization by vaccination is one of the most important tools for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet in many countries, immunization campaigns have been hampered by vaccine hesitancy within the population. Building on the idea that vaccination decisions are embedded in the broader societal context, we study the role of generalized trust-the belief that most people can generally be trusted-in vaccine acceptance. Immunization campaigns face an inherent collective action problem: As all individuals benefit collectively from high immunization rates regardless of individual contribution, especially those with a low risk of severe COVID infection have an incentive to decide against the (perceived) costs and risks of vaccination. We argue that generalized trust may help to overcome this problem

SUBMITTER: Eisnecker PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9779038 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature