Prof Peter Ayton and Prof Mark Doel on how offering incentives to persuade the reluctant to get vaccinated could backfire, and Isaac Ohringer on why teenagers like him shouldn’t be vaccinated while older people worldwide are still at risk
You report that several governments have been offering cash incentives, lotteries or gifts to citizens who opt to get vaccinated (Savings bonds, lotteries and cheap food: do vaccine incentives work?, 3 August). However, there is evidence that offering incentives may discourage vaccination – particularly among those most concerned about adverse effects.
Behavioural research confirms that paying people to perform altruistic actions often backfires. For example, because paying blood donors breaks social norms about voluntary contribution, it can substantially reduce the numbers willing to donate. People collecting charitable donations invest more effort and raise more money when not paid than when paid a small commission.