Exploring the effect of risk and benefit information provision on vaccination decision-making

In the era in which people are bombarded with misinformation about vaccination, research regarding the degree to which various types of risk or benefit information affect perceptions of vaccines and intentions to vaccinate is critical. The present research utilizes a robust methodology to quantify the extent to which risk and benefit information affects vaccination intentions. Our work demonstrates an inverse relationship between the perceived risks and benefits of a vaccine. By providing information about either risks or benefits of a vaccine, our findings suggest that we can change one's perception of both the risks and benefits of the vaccine. Considering that the main cognitive barriers to vaccination are related to concerns about efficacy and safety, our results suggest that vaccine messages can be framed to address the audience's main concerns, whether it be about the low efficacy of the vaccine or its safety, knowing that both frames would carry similar outcomes. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.