Do national innovation projects shape citizens’ public health behaviours?

Abstract

This article investigates whether, in the context of rising nationalism, drawing attention to national innovation strategies influences public health behaviours, particularly vaccine uptake. It draws on an original two-wave panel study of United Kingdom (UK) respondents during the COVID pandemic. The survey included an experimental design, which primed respondents with a nationalist framing of COVID-19 vaccines, drawing attention to the UK’s role in developing the AstraZeneca vaccine and in rapid approval and roll out of other vaccines. Our results show no significant impact of nationalist framing on vaccine willingness, even among those with nationalist or science-skeptical views. These findings suggest public health authorities should be cautious with nationalist framing, as it may be ineffective or counterproductive.