A Cross-Disciplinary Look at Vaccine Policy
A new, joint effort between political science and public health faculties is launching a longitudinal study on how state vaccine policies shape who gets vaccinated and why. Building on a rich history of COVID-19 research, the project aims to reveal how political beliefs, access to care, and demographic factors interact with policy to influence vaccination outcomes over time.
Researchers and Roles
Leading the project is Kmush, the principal investigator who serves as the director of graduate studies and associate professor of public health. She also holds roles as a senior research associate at the Center for Policy Research and a research affiliate in the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health. Kmush’s recent work includes a cross-sectional study on race, income, discrimination, and vaccine status, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
Joining Kmush is Gadarian, a professor of political science and associate dean for research. She contributes as a senior research associate at the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and holds affiliations with the Center for Policy Research and the Lerner Center. Her background includes co-authoring Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID, a book that frames how political dynamics shape public health outcomes.
The study’s co-investigators also 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. A post-doctoral fellow for the Public Health Department at Maxwell, Dustin Hill, will serve as a research assistant, contributing data analysis and methodological expertise.
What the Study Will Examine
The researchers will use longitudinal survey data from the pandemic, enriched with information on state vaccine policies. By tracking individuals over time, the team hopes to uncover how shifts in policy, such as mandates, interact with personal characteristics to influence vaccination decisions.
Key factors under consideration include demographics, access to healthcare, and political beliefs. The project will test a central hypothesis: vaccine mandates may boost vaccination in the short term but could foster hesitancy over time, potentially reducing vaccination rates in the longer term. The study will also explore whether policy effects differ across communities with varying levels of trust in government, healthcare systems, and scientific institutions.
Implications for Policy and Public Health
If the findings bear out, they could help policymakers design more effective vaccination campaigns that maximize uptake without fueling backlash. The researchers hope to provide a nuanced picture of how policy design, communication strategies, and equity considerations intersect to influence vaccination coverage.
Beyond policy guidance, the study aims to contribute to broader debates about the role of partisanship and public health. By linking measures of political context with health behaviors, the team intends to illuminate pathways for reducing disparities in vaccine access and acceptance.
Timeline and Expected Outcomes
Over the coming years, the team will compile and analyze data, publish findings in reputable journals, and share insights with public health agencies. The interdisciplinary approach—bridging political science, psychology, and public health—seeks to produce actionable recommendations that respect diverse communities while safeguarding public health.
About the Researchers
Kmush brings extensive experience in public health promotion and population health research. Gadarian contributes a political science perspective on how governance and partisanship shape health behaviors. The collaboration with psychologists and health policy scholars from Le Moyne College and Boston University broadens the study’s methodological toolkit, enabling robust analysis of complex social dynamics in vaccine decision-making.
Reporters from Jessica Youngman and Jacob Spudich provided coverage and context for this project, highlighting its potential to inform both policy and practice in the ongoing effort to manage vaccine-preventable diseases.
