Elite party cues increase vaccination intentions among Republicans

Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic requires motivating vast majority of Americans to get vaccinated. However, vaccination rates have become politically polarized, and a substantial proportion Republicans remained vaccine hesitant for months. Here, we explore how endorsements by party elites affect Republicans’ intentions attitudes. In preregistered survey experiment ( n = 1,480), varied whether self-identified saw from prominent (including video speech former President Donald Trump), Democratic Party Joseph Biden), or neutral control condition including no endorsements. Unvaccinated who were exposed Republican elite endorsement reported 7.0% higher than those viewed 5.7% in condition. These effects statistically mediated participants’ reports much they thought politicians would want them We also found evidence backlash against elites: be significantly less likely encourage others vaccinate had more negative attitudes toward vaccine, compared with control. results demonstrate relative advantage cues elites—and risks messaging Democrats currently power—for promoting among largest vaccine-hesitant subgroup United States.