Household Stockpiling in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam

The current Covid-19 pandemic has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths globally. As a consequence, a myriad of concomitant economic and social activities has been frozen. Many countries have had to enforce border blockages, travel restrictions and quarantine. The pandemic has changed consumers' attitudes significantly and driven individuals and households to the state of panic buying. This paper examines the household stockpiling in Vietnam in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data across the country. The empirical results show that householders' education and household sizes are positively associated with the propensity that a household stocks up. However, the likelihood of a family stockpiling is lowered when members receive information about the pandemic from formal sources. There are also notable differences among the essential items being stockpiled by different households. Specifically, households living in urban areas or near (super)markets are more inclined to stock up food than other goods. By contrast, households with members working as doctors tend to spend a large portion of their stockpiling budget on medication.

Understanding and managing pandemic-related panic buying.

Pandemics are associated with panic buying (PB) of groceries and other supplies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, community leaders expressed frustration and bewilderment about PB. Psychological explanatory concepts, including those from social learning theory and the concept of the behavioral immune system, along with recent research, suggests the following account of pandemic-related PB. PB arises when people are told to go into self-isolation as part of pandemic containment interventions. Empirically, episodes of PB typically last 7-10 days and are likely initiated by highly fearful people. PB by an anxious minority of shoppers leads to fear contagion among other shoppers, amplified by widespread dissemination, via social media, of images and videos of PB and empty shelves in stores. Thus, a snow-balling effect arises where fear of scarcity creates real but short-term scarcity. People who are highly frightened of infection tend to have heightened disgust proneness. Toilet paper is a means of escaping disgust stimuli, and for this and other reasons, toilet paper became a target of PB for people frightened of contracting COVID-19. Exploitative or selfish over-purchasing also occurred, motivated by "dark" (e.g., psychopathic) personality traits. "Don't panic!" messages from community leaders were ineffective or counter-productive. Alternative forms of messaging are discussed.

On the Potential of Relational Databases for the Detection of Clusters of Infection and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns.

In recent years, several bacterial strains have acquired significant antibiotic resistance and can, therefore, become difficult to contain. To counteract such trends, relational databases can be a powerful tool for supporting the decision-making process. The case of Klebsiella pneumoniae diffusion in a central region of Italy was analyzed as a case study. A specific relational database is shown to provide very detailed and timely information about the spatial-temporal diffusion of the contagion, together with a clear assessment of the multidrug resistance of the strains. The analysis is particularized for both internal and external patients. Tools such as the one proposed can, therefore, be considered important elements in the identification of infection hotspots, a key ingredient of any strategy to reduce the diffusion of an infectious disease at the community level and in hospitals. These types of tools are also very valuable in the decision-making process related to antibiotic prescription and to the management of stockpiles. The application of this processing technology to viral diseases such as COVID-19 is under investigation.

COVID‐19 and consumer behavior: Food stockpiling in the U.S. market

The emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic has brought radical changes in consumer spending patterns. One aspect of this change is food stockpiling detected in several countries. Using a univariate probit model, this paper relies on the COVID‐19 Impact Survey (2020) for American households to assess the likelihood of consumers stockpiling food in response to the stringent lockdown measures imposed by the government's pandemic regulations. Our findings reveal a set of significant correlations between marital status, age, race, occupation, household structure, and the propensity of stockpiling food during the pandemic. Furthermore, the results show that residents in urban areas are more likely to engage in food stockpiling compared with residents in rural and suburban areas. The paper also examines the nexus between residence areas, lockdown measures, and the probability of stockpiling food. This research reveals a significant association between psychological factors and the likelihood of stockpiling food in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic [EconLit Citations: D12, H12, I18, P25].

Stockpiling intentions and customer well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic

The COVID‐19 pandemic and associated factors influence customers' stockpiling intentions. This study examines the impact of various factors on customers' stockpiling intentions. It develops a model combining threat severity and fear of COVID‐19, customer well‐being dimensions, and constructs relating to the theories of planned behavior and competitive arousal to explain the effect of these on stockpiling intentions. Adopting a quantitative design, we analyzed data from 476 respondents using covariance‐based structural equation modeling. The empirical results confirm that threat severity (with the fear of COVID‐19 as a mediator) and fear of COVID‐19 positively influenced individuals' attitudes toward stockpiling. Additionally, a positive attitude toward stockpiling, subjective norms that support stockpiling, the degree of perceived behavioral control, perceived scarcity, and time pressure positively influence stockpiling intentions. This study's findings thus contribute to a better understanding of customers' stockpiling intentions during a crisis and assist policymakers in developing effective COVID‐19 response and recovery strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Consumer Affairs is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

USA stockpiling of remdesivir: How should the world respond?

The race to find an effective treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still on, with only two treatment options currently authorized for emergency use and/or recommended for patients hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms: low-dose dexamethasone and remdesivir. The USA decision to stockpile the latter has resulted in widespread condemnation and in similar action being taken by some other countries. In this commentary we discuss whether stockpiling remdesivir is justified in light of the currently available evidence.

Measurement of panic buying in individual and social level

Panic buying is a consumer behavior noted during environmental disasters and crises. Although it has been reported since the antique, episodes during COVID-19 attract global attention. Measurement of purchasing and stockpiling behavior is needed for the stakeholders to formulate prevention strategies. Panic buying behavior involves the interplay of biological, neurological, psychological, personality traits, negative emotional states, social interaction, and distrust. Due to its multifactorial interaction, transdisciplinary nature, close association with the disasters, and being short, sudden, and episodic pattern, measurement is challenging. The panic buying scale was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic from a Brazilian sample that has been validated and utilized in some other countries. The instrument needs to be tested with different populations across different countries to provide verification of reliability and validity. The development of new scales measuring various aspects of panic buying is required to tap the phenomenon more aptly. This chapter highlights the measurement aspects of panic buying on both individual and social levels. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Locked, Stocked, and Charmin: Sources of White Americans' Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented number of people purchasing firearms/ammunition. However, this was not the only way Americans responded to the pandemic: large swaths of the public also stayed at home and stockpiled goods. Twelve months later, as the pandemic raged, these coping mechanisms were still present as Americans continued to buy guns/ammunition, limit social interactions, and hoard supplies. Using two nationwide surveys conducted one year apart, we examine the extent and sources of gun/ammunition purchasing compared to staying home and panic buying during this unique moment in American history. Results from both surveys indicate that the factors that led to these divergent coping mechanisms vary. Both at the beginning of the pandemic and one year later, the likelihood of purchasing a firearm/ammunition was associated low self-control and White nationalism. Conversely, fear of the virus was associated with people staying home and amassing supplies. © 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTIVIST ORIENTATION

Purpose – The COVID-19 pandemic changed people's patterns of work and consumption substantially. This paper examines how cultural orientations and personality traits relate to adjustments in consumer behavior during COVID-19. Specifically, it considers whether in-dividualism/collectivism, neuroticism, and collective self-esteem can help explain local food buying and stockpiling behavior. Design/Methodology/Approach – A total of 187 consumers participated in this research, with data collection taking place during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Croatia from March to May 2020. Findings and implications – Consumers with higher horizontal collectivism engaged in local food buying more than those with lower horizontal collectivism. Horizontal collectivism and, to a lesser extent, neuroticism predicted stockpiling behavior. Collective self-esteem moderated the relationship between horizontal collectivism and stockpiling, and between neuroticism and local food buying. Fostering a sense of collective identity and emphasizing collectivist values may be a fruitful marketing strategy as a response to marketplace disrup-tions during a crisis. Limitations – The study draws on a convenience sample of students and their household members, thereby lim-iting the generalizability of the study. Originality – This paper uncovers the ways in which so-cio-cultural and personality-related psychological constructs relate to local food buying and stockpiling behavior while also highlighting the importance of cultural orientation for explaining consumer behavior during a major crisis. © 2022, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business Zagreb. All rights reserved.

Measurement of panic buying in individual and social level

Panic buying is a consumer behavior noted during environmental disasters and crises. Although it has been reported since the antique, episodes during COVID-19 attract global attention. Measurement of purchasing and stockpiling behavior is needed for the stakeholders to formulate prevention strategies. Panic buying behavior involves the interplay of biological, neurological, psychological, personality traits, negative emotional states, social interaction, and distrust. Due to its multifactorial interaction, transdisciplinary nature, close association with the disasters, and being short, sudden, and episodic pattern, measurement is challenging. The panic buying scale was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic from a Brazilian sample that has been validated and utilized in some other countries. The instrument needs to be tested with different populations across different countries to provide verification of reliability and validity. The development of new scales measuring various aspects of panic buying is required to tap the phenomenon more aptly. This chapter highlights the measurement aspects of panic buying on both individual and social levels. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Prevalence and correlates of stocking up on drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic: Data from the C3PNO Consortium.

BACKGROUND: Data from the COVID-19 pandemic describes increases in drug use and related harms, especially fatal overdose. However, evidence is needed to better understand the pathways from pandemic-related factors to substance use behaviours. Thus, we investigated stockpiling drugs among people who use drugs (PWUD) in five cities in the United States and Canada. METHODS: We used data from two waves of interviews among participants in nine prospective cohorts to estimate the prevalence and correlates of stockpiling drugs in the previous month. Longitudinal correlates were identified using bivariate and multivariate generalized linear mixed-effects modeling analyses. RESULTS: From May 2020 to February 2021, we recruited 1873 individuals who completed 2242 interviews, of whom 217 (11.6%) reported stockpiling drugs in the last month at baseline. In the multivariate model, stockpiling drugs was significantly and positively associated with reporting being greatly impacted by COVID-19 (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]= 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09-1.45), and at least daily use of methamphetamine (AOR = 4.67, 95% CI: 2.75-7.94) in the past month. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that approximately one-in-ten participants reported stocking up on drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This behaviour was associated with important drug-related risk factors including high-intensity methamphetamine use. While these correlations need further inquiry, it is possible that addressing the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable PWUD could help limit drug stockpiling, which may lower rates of high-intensity stimulant use.

Panic buying: Perspectives and prevention

This brief provides a thorough overview of the history and underlying motivations for consumer panic buying, evaluating psychological perspectives on this behavior on both an individual and societal level. The first volume of its kind to focus specifically on the topic of panic buying, the book situates its analysis within the context of the modern COVID-19 pandemic as well as in a broader psychology context. Chapters encompass a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives, incorporating insights from consumer psychology, marketing, sociology, and public health. Finally, contributors discuss the long-term implications of panic buying and potential prevention strategies. Panic Buying: Perspectives and Prevention will be a useful reference for researchers and students in consumer psychology, as well as those interested emergency preparedness, and supply chain management. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Household Drug Stockpiling and Panic Buying of Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study From Jordan.

The coronavirus disease that emerged in 2019 (COVID-19) has affected health, societies and economies. Policies that have been imposed by different countries to slow the spread of the disease, including national lockdowns, curfews, border closures and enforcement of social distancing measures have disturbed the drug supply chain and resulted in drug shortages. Uncertainty concerning the pandemic has also led to the panic buying of drugs and the stockpiling of drugs in households, which has amplified the problem. In this cross-sectional study, a self-developed questionnaire was distributed online in order to a) assess the practice of household drug stockpiling prior to the national lockdown in Jordan, b) investigate the factors affecting it and c) measure peoples' knowledge about the consequences of this behaviour. Results from this study show that drug purchasing was reported by 44.3% of the participants and was most common among participants from non-medical backgrounds (336, 75.7%) or those who have chronic diseases (261, 58.8%) and taking chronic supplements (282, 63.5%) regardless of their age, gender, living area or the possession of health insurance. Analgesics and antipyretics were the most frequently purchased drugs (225, 70.5%) and anticipation of their need was the most common reason for purchasing drugs (231, 52.0%). Buyers were also less aware, when compared to non-buyers, that panic buying and drug stockpiling may lead to drug shortages (204, 45.9% vs 325, 58.1%) and that this behaviour can pose a health hazard, especially to children (221, 47.5% vs 342, 61.2%). Our study shows that panic buying of drugs and household drug stockpiling were common in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic and this was related to participants' medical knowledge and educational backgrounds. Therefore, educating the general population regarding rational drug use is urgently needed. This is also a compelling case for the development of national guidelines for drug management that target the general population and healthcare personnel, especially pharmacists, to avoid drug shortages during crises.

Supply delays hit planned Ebola vaccine stockpile

Speed read Gavi and partners announce global stockpile of Ebola vaccine However only 6,890 doses available because of “supply bottlenecks” Target could take up to three years to reach because of supply issues Supply chain delays must be addressed to speed up creation of a stockpile of vaccines against deadly Ebola disease, researchers say. “By creating a stockpile of 500,000 doses of the Ebola vaccine, available to all countries, we can help prevent loss of life and swiftly end Ebola outbreaks in the future,” Gavi CEO Seth Berkley The new Ebola vaccine was used to tackle a two-year long outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which was declared over last June after 300,000 people were immunised. The first deliveries of doses into the stockpile are being funded through a US$20 million contribution from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since Ebola outbreaks are relatively rare and unpredictable, there is no natural market for the vaccine, the WHO explained.

Predictors of stockpiling behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Aim: With the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed an increase in purchases of certain products, such as toilet paper, disinfectants, or groceries. In the present study, we examined the individual and socio-psychological determinants of stockpiling behavior. For this purpose, we defined an explanatory model based on the Health Belief Model (HBM), which includes threat perceptions, barriers and benefits, and self-efficacy beliefs as main predictors of health-related behaviors, and extended the model to include social norms. Subject and methods: Participants were recruited via social media platforms and data collection was conducted via an online survey. The final sample included 861 German respondents (male = 199, female = 642, mean age = 36.76, SD = 12.38). Results: Perceived barriers of stockpiling, such as financial constraints or regulations in supermarkets, turned out to be the strongest predictors of stockpiling. Regarding the role of threat perception, the perceived severity of the disease in particular was positively related to stockpiling behavior. Finally, our results suggest a significant impact of social cues, showing that descriptive normative beliefs are associated with stockpiling behavior. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we propose targeted interventions to a) reduce perceived benefits of stockpiling and severity beliefs related to COVID-19, b) emphasize disadvantages of stockpiling, and c) reduce media exposure of stockpiling behavior to prevent panic buying.

Comparison of drug prescribing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-national European study.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on health care, with disruption to routine clinical care. Our aim was to describe changes in prescription drugs dispensing in the primary and outpatient sectors during the first year of the pandemic across Europe. METHODS: We used routine administrative data on dispensed medicines in eight European countries (five whole countries, three represented by one region each) from January 2017 to March 2021 to compare the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic with the preceding 3 years. RESULTS: In the 10 therapeutic subgroups with the highest dispensed volumes across all countries/regions the relative changes between the COVID-19 period and the year before were mostly of a magnitude similar to changes between previous periods. However, for drugs for obstructive airway diseases the changes in the COVID-19 period were stronger in several countries/regions. In all countries/regions a decrease in dispensed DDDs of antibiotics for systemic use (from -39.4% in Romagna to -14.2% in Scotland) and nasal preparations (from -34.4% in Lithuania to -5.7% in Sweden) was observed. We observed a stockpiling effect in the total market in March 2020 in six countries/regions. In Czechia the observed increase was not significant and in Slovenia volumes increased only after the end of the first lockdown. We found an increase in average therapeutic quantity per pack dispensed, which, however, exceeded 5% only in Slovenia, Germany, and Czechia. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this first European cross-national comparison show a substantial decrease in dispensed volumes of antibiotics for systemic use in all countries/regions. The results also indicate that the provision of medicines for common chronic conditions was mostly resilient to challenges faced during the pandemic. However, there were notable differences between the countries/regions for some therapeutic areas.

The EU to the rescEU? Assessing the geopolitics of the EU’s medical stockpile

This article uses a geopolitical lens to assess the EU’s response to COVID-19 by exploring the Commission’s creation of an emergency medical stockpile, dubbed rescEU. The article describes the creation, financing and distribution of this stockpile, which comes under the aegis of the Civil Protection Mechanism, in its first year of operation, 2020–1. What the analysis shows is how the creation and distribution of medical assistance was justified by the need to adapt to a changing international environment, one in which Russia and China contested the EU’s solidarity, both within the EU27 and towards its neighbours. The EU has committed to investing large sums to develop pandemic resilience via stockpiling. However, what remains to be seen is how far such a policy can strengthen solidarity and counteract anti-EU narratives in the global context of the increasing strategic competition facing the EU.

Consumer stockpiling under the impact of a global disaster: The evolution of affective and cognitive motives

Although consumer stockpiling is a prevalent phenomenon under the threat of a disaster, little is known about its underlying mechanisms. Leveraging consumer interviews, we build a theoretical framework that identifies two major motives for stockpiling: fear and expectations of a supply shortage. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a viable context, through a global survey across 31 countries and search datasets from Google in the United States and 6 additional countries, we find that: (1) both fear and expectations of a supply shortage lead to stockpiling;(2) the relative prevalence of these motives evolves over the progression of the disaster, with the boost and subsequent reduction in fear being more pronounced than for expectations of a supply shortage;and (3) the impact of a disaster on fear is attenuated when consumers have high trust in the government. These findings can help retail managers and public policymakers to make more informed decisions.