The Moderating Role of Proposed External Incentives on COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions in an Emerging Economy Context

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for widespread vaccination to combat the spread of the virus and protect public health. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence COVID-19 vaccination intentions and examine the moderating role of proposed external incentives in an emerging economy context. Specifically, the study explores the impact of attitude, subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioural (PB) control on vaccination intentions and examines how external incentives interact with these factors to strengthen vaccination intentions. Data was collected through 318 structured self-report questionnaires administered to individuals. The collected data underwent statistical analysis using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0. The analysis fulfilled all the necessary assumptions and criteria for data quality and model robustness. The findings indicate that attitude, SN and PB control significantly influence individuals’ intentions to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the main contribution of this study lies in its revelation that proposed external incentives positively impact the relationship between attitude and vaccination intentions. This suggests that external factors, such as monetary and non-monetary incentives, play a crucial role in attracting individuals towards preventive vaccination. The findings hold practical implications for policymakers and medical service providers, as they highlight the importance of external incentives in positively influencing vaccination intentions. These insights can aid in designing effective strategies to encourage vaccine uptake and reduce the likelihood of future pandemics.