Divided by the Jab: On the Nature, Origins, and Consequences of COVID-19 Vaccination Identities

Despite scientific consensus regarding the dangers of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the safety and effectiveness of available vaccinations, public response to the COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly politicised. We argue that the debate surrounding COVID-19 vaccines provided the basis for identity-based affective polarization, with positive social identities and negative out-group stereotyping developing around support or opposition to the vaccines. This study uses panel survey data to investigate the nature, origins, and consequences of COVID-19 vaccination-related affective polarization in Austria. The results show that vaccination identities are clearly identifiable and are related to extensive stereotyping of in- and out-group members. Moreover, vaccination identities are more strongly related to political orientations than the decision to get vaccinated itself. Importantly, vaccination identities help us understand downstream attitudes, preferences, and behaviours related to the pandemic, even when controlling for other important predictors such as partisanship for anti-vaccine parties and vaccination status.