The intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19: stated preferences before vaccines were available

The goal of this note is to better understand which determinants can explain the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. For this purpose, we conduct a survey in Germany in which we ask ourselves whether this 'time is different' from the willingness to be vaccinated against infection by influenza viruses. Our sample does not only comprise students with and without healthcare background, we also analyse a notable amount of healthcare professionals. We find that healthcare professionals exhibit a considerably greater willingness to be vaccinated against flu than healthcare and non-healthcare students. In contrast, the willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is quite similar among the populations. In both contexts, COVID-19 and flu, trust (e.g. media, activities of the government) seems to play a central role in the decision whether to be vaccinated or not.