There are over one hundred vaccine candidates currently being tested for their safety and effectiveness worldwide, and it seems we are getting closer to finding a good candidate (Pfizer and BioNTech), but acceptance is a major concern. A recent survey study suggests that the willingness of US adults to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is affected by various factors, including not only questions of efficacy and risk but also by political partisanship and where the vaccine was produced. But what about the rest of the world?
A survey conducted in 19 countries asked 13,426 participants selected at random, first, whether they would take a generally available vaccine if proven safe and effective and, second, whether they would take a vaccine if recommended by their employer. Results showed an overall willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as follows:
71.5% “completely agree” or “somewhat agree;” 14.2% “neutral/no opinion;” 14.2% “somewhat disagree” or “completely agree”
Lowest acceptance rate was 54.9% (Russia); highest acceptance rate was 88.6% (China); US acceptance rate was 75.4%
Positive responses increased with age (highest in participants ≥ 65 years), residency in a country with a high incidence and with higher mortality rates due to COVID-19, and in individuals who trusted their government. Positive responses decreased with low income (lowest in participants earning < 2 USD/day) and low level of education. Willingness to take an employer-recommended vaccine was lower overall (61.4%), with younger participants (18–24 years) being more willing to follow such a recommendation than older ones.
The take‑home message? COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is likely highly variable, depending on country, demographics, and trust in government. The information gathered in this survey can help in the development of communication strategies to increase willingness in different population groups.