COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Latin America & Trust in Foreign Governments

• In Event: Enduring Effects of COVID-19: A Global Perspective (Virtual Session)

Abstract

The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines may have profound implications for international relations, in addition to global health. Vaccine scarcity in the Global South has created opportunities for vaccine-developing countries---including China, India, Russia, the UK, and the US---to improve their reputations in emerging markets. Leveraging a panel survey conducted in January and May 2021, we evaluate whether ``vaccine diplomacy'' affects trust in foreign governments among vaccine-hesitant respondents in six Latin American countries. We find that personally receiving a vaccine durably increased trust in the government of the country where that vaccine was developed. Furthermore, providing information about the aggregate distribution of vaccines within a respondent's country increased trust in the governments of the countries where more vaccines were developed. These increases in trust---which are most pronounced for China---appear to reflect perceptions of a common good motivation. Vaccine distribution may then cultivate soft power that could further vaccine-developing countries' foreign policy goals.

Authors

• Julian Gerez, Columbia University

• Sarah Zukerman Daly, Columbia University

• John Marshall, Columbia University

• Elena Barham, Columbia University

• Oscar Pocasangre, Columbia University