More people in US and UK willing to receive Covid-19 vaccine

The number of people in the US and UK willing to receive a Covid-19 vaccine is rising as 38% and 46% of respondent from these countries responded positively in the latest World Economic Forum-Ipsos survey.

The survey titled Global Attitudes on a Covid-19 Vaccine was conducted in the days following the first vaccinations in both countries.

According to the survey, since October, the proportion of those who "strongly agree" with the question "if a vaccine for Covid-19 were available, I would get it" is up significantly in both countries.

Some 13,500 adults in 15 countries were asked if they would take the vaccine and, if not, why.

In eight countries –China, Brazil, UK, Mexico, Australia, South Korea, Canada and US – more than two-thirds agree they would get a vaccine if available compared to only around four in 10 in France and Russia.

Intent has dropped by five points or more in six countries - most of all in South Africa, France, Japan, and South Korea.

Arnaud Bernaert, head of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum, said, "As vaccinations rollout, it is encouraging to see confidence improve most in countries where vaccines are already made available. It is critical that governments and the private sector come together to build confidence and ensure that manufacturing capacity meets the global demand."

"Covid-19 is a global health crisis and global solutions are needed. We encourage cooperation between researchers and manufacturers and public funding arrangements that remove restrictions to vaccine access," he added.

Reasons for not taking a vaccine

In every country, between 57% and 80% of those who say they would not take a Covid-19 vaccine mention being worried about the side effects.

Doubts about its effectiveness are the second-most common reason in many countries, cited by as many as 45% in Russia, but only 17% in Japan.

Not being enough at risk from Covid-19 is mentioned by 32% in China and 25% in the UK.