Prior and Post-Covid-19 vaccination in Developing Countries: Does Household Willingness to Pay for Vaccine Matter?

Abstract

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted human life and made it necessary to examine the WTP for vaccines against the pandemic. Studying factors affecting the WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine before and after vaccination is crucial to understand the household WTP in these two situations. Following the panic from the pandemic, we anticipate different views and responses before and after the vaccine arrives in the country. We interviewed (461 and 396) respondents before and after the vaccine arrived in the country, respectively. The study aimed to uncover the driving factors of household WTP for vaccines before and after arrival in the country. In this study we found before and after vaccine arrived in Tanzania 95.23% and 99.49%, respectively were aware about the COVID-19 pandemic.  The main source of information before and after vaccines arrived was social media. However, fear of the vaccine's adverse health effects was the main driver of unwillingness to pay for the vaccine in both situations. Furthermore, results show that people's occupations positively and significantly influenced the WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine. To increase vaccination uptake and reduce fears of adverse health effects, we recommend government establish educational programs about the benefits and possible side effects before and after the adoption of vaccines in a particular country.