There’s a popular tweet making the rounds on Twitter that reads, “For those who wanted a world without vaccines, this is the world without ONE vaccine.” It’s a sentiment that has been echoed recently as research moves, slowly, closer to a vaccine—will citizens vaccinate themselves against COVID-19 when the chance arises?
The answer is yes, at least for almost three-quarters of U.S. adults, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted April 29 to May 5, 2020. According to the survey results across nearly 11,000 adults, 72% said they would definitely (42%) and probably (30%) get a vaccine if it was available today, compared with 27% that said they would not.
The largest percentage differences were seen based on race and ethnicity and age. For example, Black Americans are 20% (54%) less likely to get the vaccine than their White and Hispanic counterparts (74%). While 79% of the Baby Boomer and older generations said they would get the vaccine, only 67 to 68% of the younger generations said the same (Gen X, Millenial and younger). Additionally, survey respondents who identify themselves as Democratic Party members or supporters were more likely to say yes to the vaccine than members or supporters of the Republican party—79% compared with 65%.
Lastly, the higher the education, the more likely a person was to respond positively to receiving the vaccine. Eighty-four percent of respondents with a postgraduate degree responded they would get the vaccine, while 69% with a high school or less degree said they would.
There were additional questions in the survey regarding the future of the U.S. amid COVID-19. Interestingly, 83% of respondents said there will be an effective treatment or cure for COVID-19 within 12 months. The same percentage also believes there will be a second outbreak within the year. Seventy-three percent of U.S. adults said there will be a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 within 12 months, while 69% believe the sudden focus on COVID-19 will delay progress on other medical treatments.
In terms of pharmaceuticals, two-thirds of Americans said clinical trials are a very important process, even if it lengthens the time it takes to develop new treatments. Additionally, around six-in-ten Americans (59%) say the benefits of allowing more people to access experimental drugs outweigh the risks, while 40% say the risks outweigh the benefits.