Do COVID-19 Vaccination Policies Backfire? The Effects of Mandates, Vaccination Passports, and Financial Incentives on COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

Faced with the challenges of motivating people to vaccinate, many countries have introduced policy-level interventions to encourage vaccination against COVID-19. For example, mandates were widely imposed requiring individuals to vaccinate to work and attend school, and vaccination passports required individuals to show proof of vaccination to travel and access public spaces and events. Furthermore, some countries also began offering financial incentives for getting vaccinated. One major criticism of these policies was the possibility that they would produce reactance and thus undermine voluntary vaccination. This article therefore reviews relevant empirical evidence to examine whether this is indeed the case. Specifically, we devote separate sections to reviewing and discussing the impacts of three major policies that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic: vaccination mandates, vaccination passports, and the provision of financial incentives. A careful analysis of the evidence provides little support that these policies backfire but instead can effectively promote vaccination at the population level. The policies are not without limitations, however, such as their inability to mobilize those that are strongly hesitant to vaccines. Finally, we discuss how policy-level interventions should be designed and implemented to address future epidemics and pandemics.

Health Communication and Behavioral Change During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…People respond not only to norms but also to mandates that directly control individual behavior ( Table 1 , Recommendation 17). Thus, vaccine mandates lead to compliance even among people who are prone to experience psychological reactance ( Albarracin et al, 2021 ; see also Fayaz-Farkhad & Jung, 2023 ). At the same time, among those not prone to psychological reactance, mandates influence behavior in part by increasing perceived benefits and norms.…”

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments deployed one of the largest testing, treatment, and vaccination efforts ever. Many cities paid for Uber and Lyft rides to vaccination sites, vaccines were rolled out through pharmacies in record time, and many venues administered vaccines without appointments (see Fayaz-Farkhad & Jung, 2023 ). Yet this discussion rarely considered financial and psychological barriers that prevent people from acting.…”