Vaccination take-up and health: Evidence from a flu vaccination program for the elderly

• We analyze the effects of a vaccination program providing free flu vaccine to individuals aged 65 or more on take-up behavior and hospitalization. Using both administrative and survey data, we implement a regression discontinuity design around the threshold at age 65, and find that the effect of the program on take-up ranges between 70% and 90% of the average vaccination rate for individuals aged less than 65. We show that this effect is not entirely driven by an income channel, but also depends on the expected benefits of vaccination. The results on health outcomes provide suggestive evidence that the program reduces the likelihood of emergency hospitalization. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Vaccination

Influenza

Public health

Health prevention policies

mandates evidence

Business & Economics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)