About 80% of the population in resource-poor countries will not receive a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 (Katz et al. 2021). An equitable global vaccine distribution would reduce not only the number of deaths and economic hardship, but also the occurrence of viral mutations with potentially devastating effects. Hence, vaccine redistribution to resource-poor countries can be justified through altruism and self-interest.

However, only a few countries committed to sharing vaccines early on. How willing are people in resource-rich countries to share? What makes them donate towards vaccines in times of adversity? Our study aims to measure how the narratives of altruism and self-interest impact the willingness to donate.

Understanding the inclination of individuals in resource-rich countries to share is essential for ensuring that vaccine redistribution policies are accepted among the general public. The goal of our study is to support the design of a global vaccination strategy with data on individual sharing behaviour, laying a foundation for policy and outreach.