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More than half of unvaccinated Americans believe COVID-19 vaccines pose a greater risk to their health than the real virus, a new poll suggests.
The survey, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), found that 53% of people who did not receive the vaccine believe injections are riskier than contracting the disease.
This view is especially important among those who say they “definitely” don’t get the vaccine, with 75% of the “definitely not” respondents believing the vaccine to be more dangerous.
In fact, the virus is much more dangerous. Of 243,000 deaths from Covid reported in the United States since January 2021, only 1,300 have occurred in Americans who have been vaccinated.
Survey data demonstrates the challenge facing U.S. leaders seeking to immunize the nation.
However, the Indian variant ‘Delta’ inspires some Americans to go for their picture. KFF found that 22% of unvaccinated respondents said the newer variants made them more likely to get vaccinated.
More than half of unvaccinated Americans believe COVID-19 vaccines pose a higher risk to their health than the real virus, new Kaiser Family Foundation survey shows
In fact, vaccines are extremely effective in protecting against Covid disease, hospitalization, and death. Pictured: A nurse administers a Covid injection at a drive-thru site in Orlando, Florida in August 2021
The United States recently met President Biden’s goal – to immunize 70% of American adults with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine – but reached the goal about a month late.
As of Thursday, 58% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose and just under 50% are fully immunized, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Public health experts say Americans who aren’t vaccinated are in grave danger as Delta variant spreads in United States
This highly contagious variant is now responsible for more than 90% of cases in the United States – and the vast majority of unvaccinated people get sick.
The vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths from Covid are among the unvaccinated. The virus can also cause long-term damage to patients’ brains, lungs and other parts of their bodies.
Of the 243,000 deaths from Covid reported in the United States since January 2021, only 1,300 have occurred among vaccinated Americans, which equates to about 0.5%.
Yet many people who have not been vaccinated do not recognize this danger, according to the new KFF poll.
The nonprofit health research organization has conducted regular surveys of U.S. perceptions of Covid vaccines since the vaccine rolled out began last winter.
KFF interviewed beneficiaries who say they are “definitely getting” vaccinated (or have already been vaccinated), those who say they will “wait and see” how the vaccinations progress, those who won’t. vaccinate only if necessary, and those who will ‘definitely not’ be vaccinated.
In an August 4 report reflecting surveys conducted in July, KFF examined the perceptions of Americans who have not yet been vaccinated.
About 53% of unvaccinated Americans believe the vaccine poses a greater health risk than the coronavirus itself, pollsters found.
This includes 75 percent of the “definitely not” group and 34% of the “wait and see” group.
A small number of vaccinated Americans – about 7% – also believe the vaccine is a greater danger than the virus.
Additionally, the majority of unvaccinated Americans, 57%, believe the risks associated with Covid have been exaggerated by the media.
This includes 75% of the “definitely not” group and 43% of the “wait and see” group.
Majority of unvaccinated Americans (57%) think the risks of Covid have been exaggerated
Despite the new dangers posed by Delta, many unvaccinated Americans continue to believe that inoculation is unnecessary.
KFF found more concerns about new coronavirus variants in vaccinated Americans than in unvaccinated Americans.
About 74% of Americans who are vaccinated said they were worried about the variants, compared to 39% of those who were not vaccinated.
Vaccinated adults were also more likely to say they would wear a mask in public (62%) and avoid large gatherings (61%).
Among unvaccinated adults, 37% said they would be likely to wear a mask and 40% said they would avoid large gatherings.
Vaccinated Americans tend to be more concerned about new variants than unvaccinated people
Vaccinated Americans are also more likely to adjust their behavior due to variants – although the new strains are a motivator for vaccination for some.
Yet for some unvaccinated adults, Delta is a motivator to get vaccinated.
About 22% of unvaccinated adults – just over one in five – told KFF that the news from Delta made them more likely to seek the vaccine.
For adults in the “wait and see” group, 34 percent said the variants were a motivator for vaccination. A small number of adults in the “definitely not” group (2%) said the same thing.
This motivation is reflected in the vaccination figures in the United States, which have increased in recent weeks.
White House Covid Data Director Cyrus Shahpar announced on Thursday that 864,000 new doses were reported that day – the highest daily total for over a month.
Many of the states with the worst relapses from the delta are also the states with the highest increases in immunization.
In a press conference Thursday, Jeff Zients, the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator, said several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma, had the highest immunization levels since April.
Federal and local governments are also taking steps to encourage vaccination. In New York City, vaccination will soon be mandatory for indoor meals and other activities.
While it’s not clear how much a strategy increases immunizations, data from the KFF survey indicates that some Americans are responding to these initiatives.
About a quarter of currently unvaccinated adults said they were likely to be vaccinated before the end of 2021, including 13% who said they were “very likely” to be vaccinated.
Among unvaccinated adults, around 26% say they will get vaccinated before the end of 2021
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