COVID-19 Vaccine Passport and International Traveling: The Combined Effect of Two Nudges on Americans' Support for the Pass

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 20;18(16):8800. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168800.

Abstract

Immunity passports have the potential to allow large-scale international traveling to resume. However, they can only become an effective tool if they are widely supported by the general public. We carry out a double blind randomized online experiment with a sample of N=4000 Americans to study (i) whether two nudges can increase the level of support for a COVID pass for international traveling, (ii) the relationship between the effects of the nudges, and (iii) if these nudges have a negative spillover on the intention to get vaccinated. We find that both nudges increase the support for the COVID pass and that their impact is stronger when they are used together. Moreover, we find that the two nudges do not negatively affect intentions to get vaccinated. Our findings have important implications for policymakers and for the nascent literature on the interaction between multiple nudges.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccine; interaction between nudges; nudges; peer effect; status quo bias; vaccine passport.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines*
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines