COVID certificate may cause an increase in vaccination, according to study

The introduction of the digital COVID certificate has caused an increase in the demand for preparations among the citizens of countries that had lower-than-average vaccination coverage, according to a study published this Monday by The Lancet.

The research, developed by the Leverhulme Center for Demographic Science at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom), examined data from six countries and found that the COVID primer led to a rebound in their immunization campaigns in most, although it detected differences between them depending on previous levels of coverage and vaccine availability.

Thus, the study models of the experts indicated that France, Israel, Italy and Switzerland, “who started with lower-than-average vaccination coverage”Experienced a large increase in the demand for preparations before and after the entry into force of the digital passport.

By contrast, they did not detect significant changes in Germany, where coverage was already high, or in Denmark, where vaccine supply was limited.

The main author of this work, Melinda Mills, recalled in a statement that the progress of the vaccination campaigns “continues to play a crucial role“In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, so the”increased demand is key” so much for “protect the individual” as for “breaking the chain of infection in the community”.

“Our study is the first important empirical evaluation to determine if the COVID certificate can be part of this strategy”, Highlighted the expert.

In general, he noted, the results show that, in anticipation of restrictions, there was a “significant rebound“20 days before the introduction of the certificate,”lasted up to 40 days later”.

“But the existing degree of acceptance of the vaccine, doubts about vaccines, levels of trust in authorities and the trajectory of the pandemic were crucial to its impact.“Mills said.

The authors also found that, after the introduction of the digital card, the increases in vaccination were more significant in the group of individuals under 30 years of age, compared to the older age groups.

In Switzerland, for example, when the authorities used the certificate to restrict entry into nightclubs and mass events, the spike in vaccination was only detected in those under 20 years of age.

However, when the restrictions were extended to the entire hospitality and leisure sector, the increase also occurred in the age groups between 20 and 49 years old.

Experts indicate that the data suggest that these measures are useful in promoting vaccination among certain demographic groups, although they believe that more studies are needed to analyze other factors, such as socioeconomic and ethnic status, and determine “Who should the certificates be addressed to?”To increase its effectiveness.