Religiosity and Vaccine Hesitancy: Evidence From COVID‐19 Vaccination in Poland
Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics
Published online on January 30, 2026
Abstract
["Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis study examines the relationship between religiosity and vaccine hesitancy. I reveal a robust negative and non‐linear association between church attendance and COVID‐19 vaccination rates across Polish municipalities. Utilising survey data, I find that more religious individuals are less likely to accept the COVID19 vaccine, and their willingness decreases with higher local‐level religiosity, suggesting the presence of peer effects. I also examine how believers' lower vaccine acceptance is shaped by both direct and mediated effects in the mediation analysis.\n"]