Collaborative Effort Between Political Science and Public Health
A major interdisciplinary study is underway to examine how state vaccine policies influence vaccination rates, public attitudes, and health outcomes. The research team brings together expertise from political science and public health to explore a question at the intersection of policy, behavior, and health equity: Do mandates increase vaccination in the short term, and could they fuel hesitancy or lower vaccination rates over time?
Longitudinal Data and the Big Picture
The researchers will leverage longitudinal survey data collected during the pandemic, paired with information on state vaccination policies. By tracking the same individuals over multiple waves, the team aims to isolate how demographics, access to healthcare, and political beliefs shape responses to policy changes. The study’s design rests on the premise that vaccine decisions are not only medical but deeply influenced by the political environment and social context.
Key Factors Under Scrutiny
Among the core factors the team will examine are:
– Demographics, including race, income, and education levels
– Access to healthcare and vaccination services
– Political beliefs and trust in institutions
The researchers expect that mandates may produce a boost in vaccination rates in the short term, particularly among groups with easier access to vaccines or higher compliance with public health guidance. However, they also predict that mandates could inadvertently amplify vaccine hesitancy in some populations, potentially leading to lower vaccination uptake in the longer run due to resistance or perceived coercion.
Meet the Principal Investigators and Team
Kmush serves as the project’s principal investigator. She is the director of graduate studies and an associate professor of public health, with additional roles as a senior research associate at the Center for Policy Research and a research affiliate at the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health. Her recent work includes a cross‑sectional study on COVID-19 vaccine status and disparities, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, which examined how race, income, and discrimination intersect with vaccine access and hesitancy.
Gadarian is a professor of political science and associate dean for research. She contributes as a senior research associate at the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and maintains affiliations with the Center for Policy Research and the Lerner Center. Her scholarship, supported by a Carnegie Fellowship, includes Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID, published in 2022 by Princeton University Press, reflecting on how partisan dynamics shape public health responses.
Co-investigators include Rachel Dinero, associate professor of psychology at Le Moyne College; and Timothy Callaghan and Matt Motta, faculty members in the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management at Boston University. The project also benefits from the collaboration of Dustin Hill, a post‑doctoral fellow in Maxwell’s Public Health Department, who will serve as a research assistant.
Why This Study Matters
As vaccination policy continues to be a central lever in managing infectious diseases, understanding the nuanced effects of mandates is critical. The study aims to provide evidence about how different population segments respond to policy shifts, informing more nuanced approaches that protect public health while maintaining trust in institutions. The findings could guide policymakers in designing vaccination programs that sustain high uptake without fueling long‑term resistance.
What to Expect Next
As data collection and analysis proceed, the team plans to publish findings that offer actionable insights for federal, state, and local health authorities. The goal is to identify strategic leverage points—whether alternative policy tools, communication campaigns, or targeted outreach—that promote vaccination equity and resilience in public health systems against future health crises.
By Jessica Youngman with reporting by Jacob Spudich
