Behaviorally-informed framework for encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations

Abstract

As COVID-19 vaccines become more available vaccination rates are slowing down. As a result, the focus of policy makers switches from ensuring sufficient supply to keeping the demand up to achieve the vaccination rate needed for herd immunity. In this paper we classify the reasons of why individuals are not getting vaccinated into four categories: barriers, information, incentives/disincentives, and psychological biases. We propose a framework to assist policy makers in encourage vaccinations at the national, local, and individual level. We analyze the current efforts by federal and local governments and provide behaviorally-informed recommendations to policy makers for new or improved initiatives.