Study: Half Of British And American Adults May Not Take Coronavirus Vaccination

LONDON (VINnews) — Even when a vaccine will finally be found for the coronavirus, new polls claim that nearly half of British citizens and half of Americans may not even take the vaccine.

The British poll, taken by researchers at King’s College London, reveals that one in six Brits or 16% said that they would definitely not take the vaccine or it would be very unlikely that they will take it. 53% said that they are certain to take it or very likely to take it but the rest were uncertain whether they would take the vaccine. The researchers found that belief in conspiracy theories caused people to be doubtful about the efficacy of vaccines, although others said they thought thought too much fuss was being made over the pandemic.

Predictably, it was the younger people who were more likely to refuse the vaccination. Between 16- to 34-year-olds, 22% said they would not get a vaccine, which is twice the rate of 55- to 75-year-olds.

Many young adult Americans also claim they will not take a vaccination, since many of them believe the virus is not a lethal threat for them and there is also a sense of unease about the rush to create the vaccine.

A Pew Research Center survey in late April and early May found 31 percent of American adults who are millennials or younger say they probably or definitely will not get vaccinated, far higher than the 20 percent of baby boomers and 27 percent of Americans of all ages who are leaning against getting the vaccine.

A second poll in May, by the Associated Press and the University of Chicago’s NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found similar results. Thirty-five percent of 18- to 29-year-olds, an age group that includes most college students, said they will not get vaccinated. Another 22 percent said they weren’t sure. This was far more than the 18% of 30-to 44-year-olds and the 20 percent of 45- to 59-year-olds who said they will not get vaccinated.

Younger people were also more likely to shun face masks, believing that they are actually bad for people’s health.

Professor Bobby Duffy, director of the policy institute at King’s College, said that: “Misperceptions about vaccines are among our most directly damaging beliefs and they’re clearly influencing people’s intentions during the coronavirus crisis.

“While one in six in the UK say they are unlikely to, or definitely won’t, get a potential vaccine, this rises to around a third or more among certain groups, with a clear link to belief in conspiracy theories and mistrust of government, authority and science.

“Vaccines are one of our greatest achievements and there is a great deal of faith that we’ll eventually develop one for COVID-19 – but more still need to be convinced of how important it could be for ending this crisis.”