Two thirds would be likely to have vaccination

An online survey has found that 64 per cent of people would be likely to have a coronavirus vaccination when one became available.

Carried out by NIHR researchers, the online survey of 1,500 UK adults also reported that 27 per cent were unsure if they would have the vaccination, and just nine per cent reported that they were unlikely to be vaccinated.

The researchers collected the data between 14 and 17 July  2020 and analysed associations between intention to be vaccinated when a vaccine becomes available, and socio-demographic factors such as age, race, ethnicity, and education, previous influenza vaccination, general vaccine attitudes and beliefs, attitudes and beliefs about coronavirus, and attitudes and beliefs about a coronavirus vaccination.

The results showed that several factors were found to be associated with likelihood of accepting a coronavirus vaccine. People who had been vaccinated for flu last year were more likely to intend to be vaccinated for coronavirus, as were older people, people with more positive vaccination beliefs and attitudes, and people who perceived a greater risk of coronavirus to others.

Louise Smith, from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said: “A coronavirus vaccine could offer us a chance to get back on the road to ‘normal’. However, the vaccination programme will only be successful if people want to be vaccinated. We found that almost two thirds of the general population said that they would be likely to be vaccinated for coronavirus when a vaccine became available to them.

“Although there is still considerable uncertainty around the details of a coronavirus vaccination, it is encouraging that most people report that they would be vaccinated for coronavirus when a vaccine becomes available to them.”