We estimate the effect of mass media coverage of the meningococcal disease on the uptake of meningococcal vaccinations in Hungary. Our analysis is based on administrative county-level data on vaccination purchases linked to indicators of media coverage of the meningococcal disease and to administrative records of disease incidence. Using geographical and time variations in these indicators, our fixed effects estimates indicate a strong positive effect of mass media coverage of the disease on the rate of vaccination with all types of the meningococcal vaccine. At the same time, we do not find evidence that disease incidence itself has a positive impact on vaccination. These findings are broadly in line with imperfect information and the principles of bounded rationality and highlight the responsibility of mass media in influencing health-related behaviours.

我们估计了大众媒体对脑膜炎球菌病的报道对匈牙利脑膜炎球菌疫苗接种率的影响。我们的分析基于与脑膜炎球菌病媒体报道指标和疾病发病率行政记录相关的疫苗接种采购的县级行政数据。使用这些指标的地理和时间变化，我们的固定效应估计表明大众媒体对该疾病的报道对所有类型脑膜炎球菌疫苗的接种率有很强的积极影响。同时，我们没有发现疾病发病率本身对疫苗接种有积极影响的证据。