Societal Responses to Familiar Versus Unfamiliar Risk: Comparisons of Influenza and SARS in Korea

Seonghoon Hong and Alan Collins

Risk Analysis, 2006, vol. 26, issue 5, 1247-1257

Abstract: This study examines the connections between familiar (influenza) and unfamiliar (SARS) risks among the general public in a SARS affected society. Using a survey of 350 respondents in Chonju, we find that risk perceptions and a belief that influenza vaccination reduces the incidence of SARS explain behavioral intentions for influenza vaccination and purchase responses to a hypothetical SARS vaccine. Those respondents who believe that an influenza vaccination will very likely reduce SARS incidence have a high probability (79%) of intending to vaccinate, but a much lower WTP for a SARS vaccine than those without such a belief. This belief undoubtedly was influenced by a reframing of influenza vaccination as preventing SARS. Such reframing may lead to short‐term improvements in vaccination rates to the detriment of long‐term SARS vaccination development. When compared with a similar study in Taiwan, societal risk perceptions of SARS and WTP for a vaccine vary greatly according to the extent of a society's experience with SARS.

Date: 2006
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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2006.00812.x

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:riskan:v:26:y:2006:i:5:p:1247-1257

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