Incuding behavioral determinants of vaccine demand and acceptance in the EU policy-making process

Abstract

Abstract Vaccination is one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health measures developed in the 20th century, and remains the main tool for primary prevention of communicable diseases. Yet, in spite of the overall benefits of vaccination, a number of key challenges still remain to ensure sustainable, equitable and effective vaccination programmes in all EU Member States, and to secure that the added benefits of vaccinations are not lost. The overall purpose of the research programme presented is to facilitate and execute research on vaccine confidence, identifying behavioural determinants of vaccine hesitancy across different subgroups of the population (including disadvantaged and socially excluded groups) and healthcare workers, for specific categories of vaccines in a number of Member States of the European Union (MS of EU). The research group has facilitated and executed a preliminary research (consisting of a set of focus groups and an experimental survey) on vaccine confidence, for specific categories of vaccines in a number of MS of EU (Spain, Portugal, Romania, Italy, Poland, French). The outcome of the preliminary study will support the identification of the most promising areas of implementation of behavioural insights to improve vaccine confidence. At the time of writing of this abstract, the results are under collection, and will be ready by the end of June 2020. During the policy design and preparation phase, supported by a behavioural mixed methodology study, a number of behavioural determinants of vaccination demand and acceptance have been identified. This is crucial for policy making at the EU level, especially since the principle of subsidiary limits the possibilities for direct EU action over choice architecture. This requires further coordination with national health authorities Key messages During the policy design and preparation phase, supported by a behavioural mixed methodology study, a number of behavioural determinants of vaccination demand and acceptance have been identified. In the policymaking at EU level, including behavioural insight at the design and preparation stage is crucial for effective delivery of policy objectives.