LIEPP's Health Policies research group is pleased to convene the seminar: 

Retirement and COVID-19 vaccination: evidence from a fuzzy regression discontinuity design

April 3rd. 11.30am-12.30pm.

Sciences Po. Salle du LIEPP. 1 place Saint Thomas d'Aquin. 75007 Paris. 

Mandatory registration to participate in person.

Mandatory registration to participate via Zoom. 

Speaker: 

Ilias Kyriopoulos (LSE)

Abstract:

The transition to retirement is considered one of life’s most significant events, bringing about substantial changes to an individual’s preferences and daily life. This study considers behaviour changes toward COVID-19 vaccination following retirement. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we examined the impact of retirement on uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations. After considering potential endogeneity concerns, our analysis reveals that compared to individuals of similar age who have not yet retired, retirees were less inclined to get vaccinated. Our findings are consistent across various estimation methods and model specifications. Additionally, we present evidence suggesting that changes in social interactions following retirement may offer a plausible explanation for this phenomenon. Specifically, retirement results in decreased frequency of social interactions with neighbours, friends, and colleagues. These findings underscore the necessity for public health and vaccination campaigns targeted at retirees.