How Should COVID-19 Vaccines be Distributed between the Global North and South? A Discrete Choice Experiment in Six European Countries

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe global distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations remains highly unequal. We examine public preferences in six European countries regarding the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines between the Global South and Global North.MethodsWe conducted online discrete choice experiments with adult participants in France (n=766), Germany (n=1964), Italy (n=767), Poland (n=670), Spain (n=925), and Sweden (n=938). Respondents were asked to decide which one of two candidates, who varied along four attributes: age, mortality risk, employment, and living in a low- or high-income country, should receive the vaccine first. We analysed the relevance of each attribute in allocation decisions using a conditional logit regression.ResultsAcross countries, respondents selected candidates with a high mortality and infection risk, irrespective of whether the candidate lived in their own country. All else equal, respondents in Italy, France, Spain, and Sweden gave priority to a candidate from a low-income country, whereas German respondents were significantly more likely to choose the candidate from their own country. Female, younger, and more educated respondents were more favourable of an equitable vaccine distribution.ConclusionsGiven these preferences for global solidarity, European governments should promote vaccine transfers to poorer world regions.FundingFunding was provided by the European Union’s Horizon H2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 101016233 (PERISCOPE).