The adverse effects of vaccine mandates on society

Results revealed that reactance was stronger when a priori vaccination intentions were low and a mandate was introduced or when vaccination intentions were high and vaccines were scarce. In both cases, reactance increased intentions to take actions against the restriction. Further, reactance due to a mandate was positively associated with intentions to avoid the COVID-19 vaccination and an unrelated chickenpox vaccination; it was negatively associated with intentions to show protective behaviors limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Opposite intentions were observed when vaccination was scarce. The findings can help policy-makers to curb the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

These two papers, only weeks old, indicate public policy issues that were either overridden or ignored over the last two and a half years during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that many more research studies will emerge over the next few months putting new perspectives on the public policy decisions made by politicians and public officials during 2020-2022.

It's hoped that the institution of public policy and administration across the world studies how mandates were formulated and implemented in the light of perspectives coming out from academic research.