Willingness to Pay for a Coronavirus Vaccine and Its Associated Determinants in Lebanon.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical vaccine and its associated determinants among the Lebanese general population during one of the peak episodes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Lebanon. METHODS: An online survey was developed and delivered to the Lebanese general population. The questionnaire included the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, financial situation, attitude toward vaccination, and WTP for the hypothetical vaccine. The study was based on the contingent valuation method. RESULTS: Among 500 individuals solicited, 352 individuals agreed to participate (participation rate = 70.4%); among them, 66% were between 18 and 45 years old, and 54% were women. Notably, 78.1% of the respondents were ready to pay for this hypothetical vaccine even if the vaccine will not be covered. The maximum WTP of the Lebanese population was approximately $60 ± $66 (range $3-$500) after excluding extreme values in the sensitivity analysis and ranged between $3 and $500. WTP was associated with the severity of COVID-19 (P<.001), the education level (P=.001), and the place to live during the lockdown (P=.045). There was an association between family income and WTP (P=.004) with a weak correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The WTP was comparable with other studies and highly associated with the level of education, the household income, living in the city during the lockdown, and the perceived severity of COVID-19. These findings can help in understanding COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and WTP in Lebanon.