On the effect of uncertainty on personal vaccination decisions
研究了模糊性(不确定性)对个人是否接种疫苗的影响,发现对疫苗副作用和有效性的不确定性会降低接种率,而对疾病本身的不确定性则可能促进或抑制接种,对政策制定有启示。
This study investigates the effect of ambiguity on personal vaccination decisions. We first characterize the vaccination decision in the absence of ambiguity. We then show that uncertainty about the probability of side effects and the efficacy of the vaccine always reduces take-up under ambiguity aversion. However, uncertainty about the underlying disease, being the probability of sickness or the probability of a severe course of disease, may either encourage or discourage vaccination. Our results are relevant for policy because reducing uncertainty associated with the vaccine always has the desired effect whereas reducing uncertainty associated with the disease may have unintended consequences.