New poll on public attitudes to a vaccine for the virus shows:
Almost three in four people are likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if one is found, according to the results of a new survey carried out by Ipsos MRBI for the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association which represents the originator biopharmaceutical industry.
The survey found that 52% are very likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine while 21% are fairly likely. Almost one-fifth, or 17%, are unlikely to get the vaccine while 10% are unsure.
Over four-fifths, or 81%, of people believe a COVID-19 vaccine will be found. But most of those people, or 62%, believe it will be next year before one is available to the public. Just 11% believe a COVID-19 vaccine will be available this year. One-quarter of people believe it will be 2022 or later before a COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Over four-fifths, or 83%, of people believe certain groups should be prioritised when it comes to getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Frontline healthcare workers are most favoured by the public for prioritisation, with 75% of respondents saying they should get a COVID-19 vaccine either first or second. The next group prioritised by the public for a COVID-19 vaccine were people with underlying health conditions, followed by the over-70s. Of the four groups presented, the lowest priority was given to the under-18s.
The survey found that the demographic groups most likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available are the over-55s, scoring 80%, and people who have either had COVID-19 or know someone who had the disease, registering 78%. According to the survey, the biggest potential barriers for those unsure or unlikely to get a COVID-19 vaccine were that it would be too new or concerns about side-effects.
Doctors and nurses emerged as the most trusted sources of information about a COVID-19 vaccine. Almost all respondents, or 94%, said they would trust them with the facts while 91% would trust healthcare experts. Pharmacists were next, at 88%, while patient groups scored 67%. Politicians and social media were the least trusted, registering 38% and 10%, respectively. The mainstream media were trusted with the facts by 48% of respondents.
The pharmacy was favoured by 91% of people as a convenient place to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the survey, followed by the doctor’s surgery, at 89%, and the nearest hospital at 59%.
The survey found that the biopharmaceutical industry has a 51% public approval rating – up seven points since Ipsos MRBI asked the same question in September 2018.
Paul Reid, Country Manager, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, said: “At Pfizer, we are committed to developing potentially ground-breaking vaccines and medicines and we are collaborating across the health ecosystem like never before to meet this commitment. The virus and time are our enemies – and nothing unites humankind like a common enemy. The results from the IPHA Ipsos-MRBI survey reflect the strong expectation and appetite from the public for a COVID-19 vaccine. Globally, in collaboration with BioNTech, Pfizer is working at an unprecedented pace to research, develop and test a potential mRNA-based vaccine that, if approved, could be deployed at unprecedented speed for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. At the same time, we are actively scaling up our manufacturing capacity and distribution infrastructure to be ready to bring a candidate vaccine to the world faster than we have ever done before.”
Jon Barbour, Director of Medical Affairs at GSK, said: “It is heartening to see the high levels of favourable vaccine sentiment expressed in the research and that most people would avail of a COVID-19 vaccine once available. GSK believes the world needs several vaccine development programmes to successfully fight COVID-19 and therefore we are collaborating with several companies and institutions to make our pandemic adjuvant technology available to those working on promising vaccine candidates.”
Oliver O’Connor, Chief Executive of IPHA, said: “This research shows the biopharmceutical industry commans significant public support and there is a high probability that most people will choose to get a vaccine when one is available. We can always do more to boost vaccination rates and we urge people to protect themselves against avoidable diseases. Our scientists are working hard to discover vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Teams are collaborating across disciplines and territories, and between research agencies and companies, to rid the world of the virus. This is an important time for our industry and for medicines innvovation.”
About The Survey
Ipsos MRBI conducted 979 telephone interviews with adults aged 18 and over between June 15thand June 30th. The sample was controlled for age, gender, region and social class. The polling period followed the Government’s announcement of the accelerated roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions. It coincided with the move into phase three of the roadmap.