One-third of Americans say they are unlikely or hesitant to undergo a UC Davis national survey of coronavirus vaccines

According to news reports, the COVID-19 vaccine is not spreading fast enough in most regions and is not well supplied, but the underlying problem can be greater than the shortage. According to a study by the University of California, Davis, more than one-third of people across the country are unlikely or at least hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.

The results are from polls of more than 800 English-speaking adults nationwide. Research It was published online in Vaccine earlier this month.

“Our survey shows that vaccination is not optimal … 14.8% of respondents are less likely to be vaccinated, and another 23% are uncertain.” Janet B. Lewis, Associate Professor of Communication at the University of California, Davis, Research..

“Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health initiatives, but some have questioned the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Unfortunately, the urgent process of the COVID-19 vaccine raises these questions. It may be further promoting. ”

The co-author is Robert Bell, an emeritus professor at the University of California, Davis.

Respondents cited the assessment of vaccine safety and efficacy as the main basis for hesitation, the authors said.

In this survey, compensated participants were recruited from the United States through an Internet survey panel of 2.5 million residents developed by a commercial research firm. The recruitment was based on quota sampling to create a sample representing a country that matches the census and represented the US population in terms of area of ​​residence, gender, and age, but all evaluated. The demographic variables were also diverse.

Researchers measured respondents’ vaccination intent. Demographics and health profiles of individuals who are least likely to be vaccinated. General vaccine knowledge and vaccine conspiracy beliefs. The role of media and partisan politics played in resistance to vaccination.

Main survey results

• Men, the elderly, whites, married people, and people in high-income households are more likely to be vaccinated.
• Republicans and Fox News viewers were less likely to be vaccinated.
• Intention of COVID-19 vaccination, which is expected to be currently vaccinated against influenza.
• A better understanding of the hesitation of COVID-19 vaccination is needed.

Political parties, health risk factors, media contribute to attitudes

The authors have shown that demographic characteristics, knowledge of vaccines, awareness of vulnerabilities to COVID-19, risk factors for COVID-19, and politics can contribute to vaccination hesitation. The study was conducted relatively early in the two-day pandemic outbreak in June 2020.

Demographic predictors of COVID-19 vaccination include having income of $ 120,000 or more or being a Democrat (compared to Republicans in the reference category) I did. However, members of the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties made no difference in their reported vaccine knowledge. A quarter of those who confirmed that there were no political parties reported that they were unlikely to be vaccinated.

The media was also effective. Respondents who rely primarily on social media for information about COVID-19 expected that the COVID-19 vaccine would be unlikely to be accepted. Those who reported getting information from various other media did not make a big difference in receiving the vaccine, but Fox News viewers hesitated more than other broadcast news viewers. I reported. The authors said individuals could be drawn to a cable news network that offers views on pandemics that are in line with their views.

According to media reports, men, adults over the age of 65, and individuals in existing conditions are most vulnerable to COVID-19, and respondents in these groups may accept future vaccines in this study. Is high. The majority of poorly educated respondents did not expect to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the researchers said.

The top four reasons for hesitating to vaccinate were concerns about the side effects of the vaccine, concerns about allergic reactions to the vaccine, doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine, and preference for the development of immunity due to infection. Other reasons were not often cited, such as being healthy, fear of needles, immunity from past infections, youth, and lack of concern about the development of serious illness.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of COVID-19 and the health inequalities present in its treatment were reflected in the estimation of vaccination hesitation in study participants, “the researchers said in a paper. Disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. The high likelihood of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine is associated with increased knowledge of the vaccine, unacceptable vaccine plots, higher assessment of the COVID-19 threat and vaccination against influenza. was doing. “

This press release was created by University of California, Davis.. The views expressed here are those of the author himself.