The War on Whooping Cough: The Impact of Prevalence Elasticity and State Policies on Vaccination Behavior

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract: According the theory of prevalence elasticity of disease, the demand for preventative care (e.g. vaccination) against a disease increases with the prevalence of that disease. In light of this theory, I will look at pertussis incidence over the past three decades within the United States. Over this time period pertussis (also known as whooping cough) has increased in prevalence among certain age cohorts, particularly the adolescent cohort. This prevalence increase has been attributed by many to an antivaccine movement which created holes in vaccination coverage. In an attempt to curb these epidemics, states have instituted mandatory vaccination policies for school children entering preschool and kindergarten, and some states are also beginning to require a booster vaccine for entry to middle school. Since these policies target specific age cohorts, I look at pertussis prevalence and vaccination behavior amongst both the adolescent and infant age groups. Using three econometric methods, I identify the effects of prevalence elasticity, mandates, and the anti-vaccine movement on vaccination behavior, and draw policy recommendations from these empirical findings. I observe low prevalence elasticity, likely the result of the anti-vaccine movement, and therefore recommend a larger role for mandated vaccination.

Type of resource	text
Date created	May 2012

Author	Cox, Natalie
Primary advisor	Bhattacharya, Jay
Degree granting institution	Stanford University, Department of Economics

Subject	Prevalence elasticity
Subject	pertussis
Subject	vaccination
Subject	immunization
Subject	rational disease dynamics
Subject	Stanford Department of Economics
Genre	Thesis

Related item	Title 2012 Anna Laura Myers Prize for an Outstanding Thesis
Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/ck150yd9224

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Preferred Citation: Cox, Natalie. (2012). The War on Whooping Cough: The Impact of Prevalence Elasticity and State Policies on Vaccination Behavior. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/ck150yd9224

Stanford University, Department of Economics, Honors Theses

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