New Delhi (NVI): More than half of Americans have said they are willing to receive a first-generation Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available to the public, according to a new poll.
An Axios-Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Americans would likely receive the coronavirus vaccine based on current information surrounding its development and efficacy.
This week's @axios – Ipsos Coronavirus Index finds interest in first generation COVID-19 #vaccine continues to climb as it becomes more of a reality. Study also sees most Americans increasingly drawing back into protective bubbles. Read more here. #MRX https://t.co/KVi3gP1Eem pic.twitter.com/0nF8E8dOZi
— Ipsos US (@ipsosus) December 9, 2020
This was a slight increase from the 51 per cent of Americans who said they would take the vaccine before Thanksgiving and 38 per cent in early October, Ispos reports.
Additionally, 67 per cent of respondents said they would take the vaccine if it showed it was 90 per cent effective at protecting one against Covid-19 – an efficacy both Pfizer and Moderna have said their vaccines demonstrate against the novel virus, based on data from their late-stage human trials.
Then 65 per cent of Americans said they would take the vaccine if it was on the market for a few months.
Poll respondents were also asked if their support of the vaccine would increase if President Barack Obama, President George W Bush, and President Bill Clinton all received the jab on TV to show it’s safe. About 60 per cent of respondents said they would take the vaccine if this happened, which was “an improvement over baseline but not as convincing as the safety arguments,” Ipsos said.
The former presidents announced last week that they would be willing to receive the coronavirus vaccine on TV in order to improve confidence among the public.
President-elect Joe Biden and Dr Anthony Fauci, among others, have also said they would receive the jab on television in an effort to show the public how much the treatment is trusted.
In an effort to further improve public confidence, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioned an independent panel of experts to review vaccine data prior to giving companies emergency authorisation for their jabs.
Vaccine distribution could start as early as this weekend if Pfizer receives emergency authorisation this week.
-CHK
