Investigating Supply & Demand Side Factors of a Massive Covid-19 Vaccination Drive: Experimental Evidence from Indonesia

• Applicants: Renate Hartwig, Ph.D.; Dr. Jan Priebe
• Subject Area: Economic Policy, Applied Economics
• Term: from 2021 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 468106690

Indonesia is fighting one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia. Relying on a massive vaccination drive using China’s Coronavac the government aims to create herd immunity and vaccinate over 180 million people – two third of the population – over the next 15 months. Besides logistical challenges the success of the campaign will critically hinge on the population’s acceptance of the Coronavac vaccine. Skepticisms and lack of trust into the ‘Chinese’ vaccine are, however, widespread. Particularly among Muslims who make up 90 percent of the country’s population, anti-Chinese sentiments and concerns that components of the vaccine are not halal are common. In addition to concerns about vaccination take-up, a number of supply side challenges exist. Even though the vaccine will be provided free of charge, shortage in supply is expected. Country experts are worried that this will lead to systematic exclusion of the poor and vulnerable in the vaccination drive. These concerns are further exacerbated because corruption and bribe payments are common in the Indonesian health system, which might make vaccinations unaffordable for many. This project aims to examine both aspects – supply and demand side concerns – together. Specifically, the project asks: a. How does religiousness affect vaccination take-up and how does information provision overcome religious concerns?b. What is the extent of discrimination in access to the vaccine and what is the role of corruption in this context? The project studies these questions using an information treatment experiment and an audit study. It is organized into two work packages (WP): WP 1 will provide insights into the role of religious beliefs and (mis-)information for vaccination take-up. WP 2 will study discrimination in the access to the vaccine. Both aspects are highly policy relevant in the context of Indonesia but also for other countries in the Global South with large Muslim populations and with health systems where discrimination and corruption are common. Furthermore, the proposed study will provide timely and essential input to Indonesia’s mass vaccination drive which will allow policy makers to optimize the roll-out of the campaign.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Indonesia
• Cooperation Partners: Teguh Dartanto, Ph.D.; Sudarno Sumarto, Ph.D.