Vaccination and risky behaviors: evidence from the hepatitis B vaccination campaign in China

Chen Huang, Cong Li (), Feng Liu () and Ruofei Xu ()
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Cong Li: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
Feng Liu: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Ruofei Xu: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

Journal of Population Economics, 2023, vol. 36, issue 4, No 17, 2549-2580

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the causal relationship between vaccination and individuals’ risky behavioral responses has important policy implications as it affects the ultimate effectiveness of increasing access to vaccination. This paper examines the causal effects of vaccination on risky behaviors by exploring the 1992 hepatitis B vaccination campaign in China. Our empirical strategy exploits variations in age at the campaign as well as the pretreatment infection risks across provinces. Using a large cross-section of individuals born between 1981 and 1994, we find that more exposure to the hepatitis B vaccination leads to lower alcohol use during adulthood, and such impacts are almost entirely driven by men. Individuals from more educated families and people who live in urban areas tend to react more. Improved educational attainment and dissemination of related knowledge are important contributors. Our results uncover an unexpected benefit of promoting access to vaccination.

Keywords: Hepatitis B; Vaccination; Risky behaviors; Alcohol consumption; I12; I18; H51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-023-00942-4

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