'We Are Not Guinea Pigs': The Effects of Negative News on Vaccine Compliance
52 Pages Posted: 2 Feb 2021 Last revised: 4 Oct 2021
Date Written: January 29, 2021
Abstract
In 1996, following an epidemic, Pfizer tested a new drug on 200 children in Muslim Nigeria. 11 children died while others were disabled. We study the effects of negative news on vaccine compliance using evidence from the disclosure of deaths of Muslim children in the Pfizer trials in 2000. Muslim mothers reduced routine vaccination of children born after the 2000 disclosure. The effect was stronger for educated mothers and mothers residing in minority Muslim neighborhoods. The disclosure did not affect other health-seeking behavior of mothers. The results illustrate the potential spillover effects of perceived medical malpractice on future vaccine hesitancy.
Note: Funding Statement: This research was not funded by any sources. Declaration of Interests: There are no competing interests to declare.
Keywords: Vaccination, Vaccine Hesitancy, Epidemic, Disease, Networks, Information, Religion
JEL Classification: I12, I14, I18, D83, O12, Z12
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation