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Information and vaccine hesitancy: The role of broadband Internet

Author

Listed:
  • Sofia Amaral-Garcia

    (European Commission - Joint Research Center, i3health/Universite libre de Bruxelles)

  • Mattia Nardotto

    (ECARES - Universite libre de Bruxelles, CEPR and CESifo)

  • Carol Propper

    (Imperial College London, Monash University, CEPR and IFS)

  • Tommaso Valletti

    (Imperial College London, CEPR and CESifo)

Abstract

We examine the effect of internet diffusion on the uptake of an important public health inter- vention: the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. We study England between 2000 and 2011 when internet diffusion spread rapidly and there was a high profile medical article (falsely) linking the MMR vaccine to autism. OLS estimates suggest internet diffusion led to an increase in vaccination rates. This result is reversed after allowing for endogeneity of internet access. The effect of internet diffusion is sizable. A one standard deviation increase in internet penetration led to around a 20% decrease in vaccination rates. Localities characterised by higher proportions of high skilled individuals and lower deprivation levels had a larger re- sponse to internet diffusion. These findings are consistent with higher skilled and less deprived parents responding faster to false information that the vaccine could lead to autism.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Amaral-Garcia & Mattia Nardotto & Carol Propper & Tommaso Valletti, 2024. "Information and vaccine hesitancy: The role of broadband Internet," Papers 2024-04, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhe:chemon:2024-04
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internet access; Vaccines; Child health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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