Game theory explains why reasonable parents make vaccine choices that fuel outbreaks

By: Y. Tony Yang, George Washington University and Avi Dor, George Washington University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 25, 2025

Words: 1,336

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 2 days ago

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By Y. Tony Yang, George Washington University and Avi Dor, George Washington University

When outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles occur despite highly effective vaccines being available, it’s easy to conclude that parents who don’t vaccinate their children are misguided, selfish or have fallen prey to misinformation.

As professors with expertise in vaccine policy and health economics, we argue that the decision not to vaccinate isn’t simply about misinformation or …

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