COVID-19: Vaccination Requirements May Promote Vaccine Uptake in the United States

DOI: 10.1038 / s41598-021-00256-z

Commentary

Research indicates that making SARS-CoV-2 vaccination a requirement for work, school, and travel in the United States may be more effective in promoting vaccine uptake than employer policies that express a preference for vaccination and emphasize the benefits of vaccination.

Two hundred and ninety-nine adults from across the United States were surveyed to identify whether they would be willing to be vaccinated if SARS-CoV-2 became necessary for work, travel, or school.

They then conducted three experiments asking a total of 1,324 participants whether they would be more or less likely to be vaccinated by a hypothetical new or current employer who required, preferred, or emphasized the benefits of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

They also used a psychological questionnaire to measure participants' tendency to react negatively to regulations and asked participants if hypothetical vaccine requirements would affect their perceptions of vaccination.

Eighty-six percent of the 299 people surveyed reported that they would get vaccinated if it became necessary for work, travel, or school.

In response to the fictitious workplace vaccination policy, there was a strong willingness to be vaccinated according to the required vaccinations, rather than as preferred or promoted by the employer.

It was also found that those who reported a tendency to react negatively to regulations were similarly or more positively influenced to get vaccinated as a result of vaccination requirements than those who tended to react neutrally or positively to regulations.

Among participants who tended to respond negatively to the regulation, the hypothetical vaccination requirement had no impact on the benefit of vaccination. It did, however, make them feel less morally obligated to be vaccinated, as opposed to more favored or promoted.