@article{Buckell_J-2023_141091,
title = {COVID-19 vaccination, risk-compensatory behaviours, and contacts in the UK},
author = {Buckell, J. and Jones, J. and Matthews, P. and Diamond, I. and Rourke, E. and Studley, R. and Cook, D. and Walker, A. and Pouwels, K. and COVID-19 Infection Survey Group},
month = {may},
year = {2023},
abstract = {The physiological effects of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are well documented, yet the behavioural effects not well known. Risk compensation suggests that gains in personal safety, as a result of vaccination, are offset by increases in risky behaviour, such as socialising, commuting and working outside the home. This is potentially important because transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is driven by contacts, which could be amplified by vaccine-related risk compensation. Here, we show that behaviours were overall unrelated to personal vaccination, but—adjusting for variation in mitigation policies—were responsive to the level of vaccination in the wider population: individuals in the UK were risk compensating when rates of vaccination were rising. This effect was observed across four nations of the UK, each of which varied policies autonomously.},
volume = {13},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34244-2},
}
