The announcement of the start of immunization in Israel is not just in the medical line • Prof. Yuval Feldman, economics expert: "It is appropriate that those who set an example are doctors, not politicians"
DHL plane with the vaccines at Ben Gurion Airport, this week
Photography:
Mark Israel Salem
A DHL plane that landed at Ben Gurion Airport this week was the opening shot for the new world, literally, facing the State of Israel and all of humanity in preparation for the distribution of corona vaccines around the world. It started, as mentioned, with about 4,000 Pfizer vaccines, and will continue with planes. An even heavier cargo, which will carry on board a balm for an entire country.
But the advent of vaccines will only be the first step on a path that will continue to be long and vague.
It seems that the fear of many people in the population about getting vaccinated concerns concerns about the unknown, and it seems that even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that he will be vaccinated first to set an example in the public does not necessarily soothe the core of human anxiety.
"The people most deserving of public concern are biologists and physicians," explains Yuval Feldman, a behavioral economics expert, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, a law professor at Bar-Ilan University and a former researcher at the Safra Corruption Research Laboratory.
"Trust in science is critical to allaying concerns, and it is certainly the first step to take. Since the public has relatively low confidence in decision-makers in Israel and in some government institutions, it is advisable that as many reputable, non-government professionals as possible explain to the public the benefits of the vaccine."
Feldman believes that alongside doctors and scientists, opinion leaders such as clerics, celebrities and social activists should be identified in the early days of the vaccination campaign in order to explain to the masses the importance of the vaccine.
"The fact that a politician, including the prime minister, is vaccinated should not be a reassuring consideration, as the politician's gain from the vaccine may be associated with public sympathy.
Rewards and benefits. Feldman // Photo: The Israel Democracy Institute
"However," he cautions, "there is certainly significant emotional value in leaders who set a personal example, as the ethos of 'after me' is very strong among many in the Israeli public."
So how can politicians still influence?
Feldman argues that in order to encourage a sense of mutual guarantee, 120 Knesset members can be vaccinated in the same class.
"It will be an impressive and unifying leadership act, which will have the power to separate vaccines from the politics that inevitably accompanies it, especially at a time when Israel is today."
No queue, with flights
Opinion leaders of all kinds, who are likely to be at the forefront of the vaccination campaign, will surely reach sterile areas devoid of queues and receive the coveted vaccine, while most citizens will have to wait for a donor in the face of understandable burdens on hospitals and various funds.
But here, Feldman explains, equal justice is required.
"The vaccination process should be facilitated as much as possible," he says, "so an active phone call should be announced or an email updated to update on the place and time you should be vaccinated - no queue. It is important to make it clear to people that giving up their vaccination queue may lead them to an unknown point in time. "It's more important to remember that statements of the kind that make it sufficient for half the public to be vaccinated for herd immunity may be medically correct but behaviorally problematic; they significantly weaken every citizen's personal commitment to get vaccinated."
Feldman adds that Home Front Command studies have shown that people are more afraid of being infected than being infected, and he says that this approach can also be used in relation to vaccines.
"You can turn to young people and convince them that if they are vaccinated, they will dramatically increase the chance that they will not infect those close to them who are in risk groups, and not necessarily because it is good for them."
What other incentives can be taken to persuade people to get vaccinated?
"It can be said that those who get vaccinated will enjoy the benefits that those who are tested receive, for example - entry to green islands, boarding flights or lack of isolation. "A significant incentive to adopt surveillance apps while in the corona. Similarly, it is enough that the vaccine will make people reduce the need to be tested over and over again so that many people will want to get vaccinated."
Proverbial radiation filter
The next step, in Feldman's teaching, may come as a surprise in its simplicity: obtaining a sticker for each vaccinated person.
The rationale, it turns out, is based on studies according to which a sticker is a kind of "social signal" that encourages social norms.
"Stickers on cars, for example, with various slogans like 'I got vaccinated too', or 'Thanks to me artists will be able to perform again', will lead to a trend where more and more people will be uncomfortable not getting vaccinated and without the sticker in question. On social networks, and quickly spread the social profit to the vaccinated. "
Why not impose sanctions on those who do not get vaccinated?
"Unlike, for example, wearing a mask, a study in Germany, for example, confirmed that in cities where it was mandatory to wear a mask, there was a sharp decline in morbidity - corona vaccines have health concerns and therefore a vaccine may produce too strong a counter-reaction.
"Wearing a mask is not dangerous at all, so imposing the duty here is justified for the benefit of the general public. Possible health damage is something that can not be overcome through sanctions, which is also really not clear that needs to get there. Proper use of information, incentives and complementary behaviors will make most people vaccinated. Without imposing an obligation that may only produce rhetoric that will serve vaccine opponents. "
You argue that the state should bear in the sick days of those who will suffer from side effects of the vaccine. It may convince the public to get vaccinated?
"Obviously paying for sick days will not relieve anxiety. But paying sick days is part of a concept of compensation, such as compensation for reserve days. That is, the state should broadcast that you are vaccinated because it is right for you and your environment. And if you did the right thing you suffered financial damage. "The state will compensate you."
What about the scenario where the vaccines will lead to public complacency that will lead to a worsening of the health condition?
"There is such a claim, as a seat belt makes people travel faster or a sunscreen makes people more in the sun. However, it is still too early to determine such behavior regarding vaccines. It must not be forgotten that even with regard to masks at the beginning of the corona crisis, many experts objected." "He will keep his distance. Today, everyone understands that it was a false fear."
