Exclusive: International COVID-19 Vaccine Poll Shows Greater Distrust of Russian, Chinese Shots

LONDON (Reuters) – People around the world are generally likely to say yes to a COVID-19 vaccine, but are said to be more wary of injections made in China or Russia than those developed in Germany or the United States, showed an international poll on Friday.

The survey, conducted by polling firm YouGov and shared exclusively with Reuters, found that Britons and Danes were most willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it became available, while the French and Poles were more likely to be hesitant.

The survey was based on questions asked of nearly 19,000 people.

He also found that willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine had improved in many countries in recent weeks, as had injections developed by companies in the United States, Russia, China, Germany and Great Britain. -Brittany were starting to be delivered and administered in countries around the world. Europe, North America and Asia.

In Britain, 73% of people said they would get vaccinated, while in Denmark the number was 70%.

In the United States, however, just under half of those polled said they would be willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a figure that has remained broadly stable since July.

More than a third of those polled in Poland and almost half in France – 37% and 48% respectively – said they would say no to a COVID-19 vaccine if offered.

Chart: YouGov vaccine confidence table –

WAIT AND LOOK

Public confidence in vaccines will be a key factor in governments’ efforts to reduce the rate of infections in the year-long SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 92 million people. people around the world and killed at least 1.98 million.

A study published by researchers on confidence in vaccines in November found that conspiracy theories and misinformation fuel mistrust and could push COVID-19 dose-taking rates below levels needed to protect communities against disease.

Friday’s YouGov poll found that while significant minorities in many countries have said they will not be taking the COVID-19 vaccine now, most gave their reason for preferring to wait and see if the vaccines are safe, and few were motivated by a rooted anti-vaxxer. ”Views.

In France, for example, the proportion of the population saying they would refuse the vaccine because they were “opposed to vaccines in general” was highest at 9%, but still well below the percentage who would specifically reject a COVID vaccine. -19.

As the production and delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine began to increase, the YouGov poll also investigated attitudes towards mandatory COVID-19 vaccination – a policy being discussed by some governments to try to do so. vaccinate as many people as possible.

Such a move was most popular in India with 77%, Indonesia with 71% and Mexico with 65%. The British were divided, with 40% support and 42% opposition, Americans tended to oppose the idea, with 46% versus just 29% who would support mandatory vaccinations.