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21 - Trust and the COVID-19 Pandemic

from Part II - Health Behaviours and Policies during Covid-19

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2025

By
Caroline Rudisill  and
Sayward Harrison
Edited by
Joan Costa-Font  and
Matteo M. Galizzi
Joan Costa-Font
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Matteo M. Galizzi
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
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Summary

We argue that vaccine regulation in a number of European countries can be defined as following an ‘erring on the side of rare events’ (ESRE), namely a form of extreme implementation of the precautionary principle that arises when misinformed public opinion places disproportionate attention on small and rare risks in making risk benefit assessments. ESRE has been amplified by media (including social media) reporting, which has contributed to exaggerate the risks of rare vaccine side effects. Government decisions regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have responded to an ESRE criterion and have had far-reaching consequences for vaccine hesitancy globally.

Keywords

precautionary principleCOVID-19 vaccines
Type
Chapter
Information
Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics
Insights from Responses to COVID-19
 , pp. 378 - 400
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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