Free-Riding Behavior in Vaccination Decisions: An Experimental Study
Open Access
- 24 January 2014
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 9 (1), e87164
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087164
Abstract
Individual decision-making regarding vaccination may be affected by the vaccination choices of others. As vaccination produces externalities reducing transmission of a disease, it can provide an incentive for individuals to be free-riders who benefit from the vaccination of others while avoiding the cost of vaccination. This study examined an individual's decision about vaccination in a group setting for a hypothetical disease that is called “influenza” using a computerized experimental game. In the game, interactions with others are allowed. We found that higher observed vaccination rate within the group during the previous round of the game decreased the likelihood of an individual's vaccination acceptance, indicating the existence of free-riding behavior. The free-riding behavior was observed regardless of parameter conditions on the characteristics of the influenza and vaccine. We also found that other predictors of vaccination uptake included an individual's own influenza exposure in previous rounds increasing the likelihood of vaccination acceptance, consistent with existing empirical studies. Influenza prevalence among other group members during the previous round did not have a statistically significant effect on vaccination acceptance in the current round once vaccination rate in the previous round was controlled for.This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Parental decision-making in childhood vaccinationVaccine, 2006
- Emotions and preventive health behavior: Worry, regret, and influenza vaccination.Health Psychology, 2006
- Why do parents hesitate to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps and rubella?Acta Paediatrica, 2004
- Optimal tax/subsidy combinations for the flu seasonJournal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 2004
- Omission bias in vaccination decisions: Where’s the “omission”? Where’s the “bias”?Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2003
- Predictors of Influenza Vaccine Acceptance among Healthy AdultsPreventive Medicine, 1999
- Dynamic epidemiology and the market for vaccinationsJournal of Public Economics, 1997
- Cognitive processes and the decisions of some parents to forego pertussis vaccination for their childrenJournal of Clinical Epidemiology, 1996
- The Roles of Altruism, Free Riding, and Bandwagoning in Vaccination DecisionsOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 1994
- Externalities and compulsary vaccinationsJournal of Public Economics, 1991