As Coronavirus cases climb in the United States to record highs, and a vaccine on the horizon, how likely are most Americans to be willing to take the vaccine when it is available?
Coronavirus cases have skyrocketed the last month, and reached a new record of 11 million total cases in the United States. On November 17, the 7-day average in the United States was 158, 265 total positive cases.
On Wednesday, Pfizer announced that the coronavirus vaccine was 95% effective and did not have any serious side effects. Pfizer and it’s partner BioNTech, plan to apply to the FDA within a few days for emergency authorization of the vaccine. Pfizer could have up to 50 million doses available to Americans by the end of the year, and up to 1.3 billion by the end of next year.
On Monday of this week, another company Moderna had announced that it’s Coronavirus vaccine was 94.5% effective in early analysis. Moderna also plans to ask the FDA for emergency authorization. There are two potential Coronavirus vaccines that could be available by the end of the year.
With these new vaccine announcements from two different companies, are Americans willing to get vaccinated and trust a vaccine will be safe?
According to a poll from Gallup released on Tuesday, many Americans still are not sure about the safety of a vaccine. The poll showed that 58% of Americans are willing to be vaccinated when a safe, FDA approved Coronavirus vaccine is available. This number of willing Americans has increased from 50% when the same question was asked in September. Earlier in the pandemic, the number of Americans willing to take a Coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available was much higher. In June in the Gallup poll, 66% of Americans said they would be vaccinated once the vaccine was available.
The Gallup survey was conducted between October 19 and November 1. This poll was conducted before Pfizer and Moderna announced their vaccines’ effectiveness, but as cases are continuing to rise across the United States. Americans may have been more willing to take the vaccine since cases are rising in almost every state in the country.
The increased willingness to take a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available was greater in several different categories of Americans. Democrats and Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 all increased in their willingness to take the vaccine. Among Democrats, willingness to take a vaccine increased to 69% from 53% in September. 49% of Americans between the ages of 45 and 64, said they were willing to take a Coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available. This is an increase from 36% in September.
The 42% of US adults who said they would not get a vaccine is down from 50% in September. Despite the decrease in Americans who would not get a vaccine, it still proves that it will be difficult to get cooperation from all Americans. In order to combat the Coronavirus in the United States, the majority of Americans need to get vaccinated.
Of those 42% of Americans who are not currently willing to be vaccinated for the Coronavirus, 37% responded that they were concerned about the vaccine being rushed, 26% responded they would want to wait to confirm it is safe before taking it, and 12% do not trust vaccines generally. These were the most common reasons for not wanting to receive the vaccine.
Similar results were found in a recent poll from Suffolk University. Respondents were asked if they will take a vaccine as soon as they can, wait a while until others have taken it, or not take the vaccine at all. Of those surveyed, 26% said they would take it as soon as they can, 47% said they would wait until others have taken it, and 20% will not take a vaccine.
Americans overall are less likely than they were earlier this year and at the beginning of the pandemic to say they would get vaccinated for the Coronavirus when a vaccine becomes available. Public health officials will face a challenge in encouraging all Americans to get vaccinated, when about 40% are still refusing.
Public health officials may be able to convince those that are concerned about the vaccine being rushed, or want to wait to know that it is safe, by continuing with clinical testing. The results that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are 95% effective may also be able to convince those who are hesitant. Convincing the 12% of Americans who usually distrust vaccinations to get vaccinated for Coronavirus will be much more challenging.
Amelia Morel 