How does the wealth level of nations affect their COVID-19 vaccination plans?

Abstract

This study uses global data to examine how vaccination levels correlate with socioeconomic, institutional and political variables across 150 countries. Results demonstrate that as a country's economic development, measured by GDP per capita, increases, so does the percentage of vaccinated people, reaching a peak of 70%. Furthermore, countries with Monarchy and Parliamentary Monarchy exhibit higher vaccination levels among their populations compared to countries with mixed Executives. In this context, manifold countries are implementing restrictions and bureaucratic rules, such as green pass/vaccine reports, to boost vaccination levels by regulating various public and private life aspects that potentially impact individuals' well-being. The discussion elucidates the underlying causes of these sociopolitical phenomena within the context of social insecurity. All these results can provide valuable insights for policymakers, aiding them in crafting sustainable policy responses to address not only COVID-19 but other similar epidemics, all while not adversely affecting nations' economies and social structures.

Keywords

• COVID-19 vaccines
• vaccine hesitancy
• economic development
• political system
• vaccine passports
• equity