27% "Vaccination Uncertain", 26% "Absolutely Won't Get Vaccinated"
US Health Authorities Say Over 70% Need to Be Vaccinated for Herd Immunity
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] According to a poll conducted by the Associated Press (AP) and the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center (NORC), more than half of the American public does not trust the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine and has no intention of getting vaccinated. Since achieving herd immunity, the goal set by U.S. health authorities, requires at least 70% of the population to be vaccinated, health officials anticipate that overcoming vaccine hesitancy will be a critical challenge moving forward.
According to the AP report on the 9th (local time), the poll conducted jointly by AP and NORC from December 3 to 7 surveyed 1,117 Americans. The results showed that 53% of respondents said they would not get vaccinated, while only 47% said they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Those who responded that they would not get vaccinated were divided into two main groups: 27% were uncertain about whether to get vaccinated, and 26% said they would absolutely refuse vaccination. Among vaccine refusers, a significant number were people of color who have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 24% of Black respondents and 34% of Hispanic respondents said they would get vaccinated. In contrast, 53% of White respondents said they would receive the vaccine.
Most respondents who said they would not get vaccinated cited concerns about side effects. On the 8th, the United Kingdom, which was the first country in the world to grant emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, reported that two priority recipients experienced allergic reactions after vaccination, raising concerns about vaccine side effects. On the same day, UK health authorities warned that people with a history of allergies should not receive the Pfizer vaccine.
As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee is scheduled to begin reviewing Pfizer's vaccine for approval on the 10th, U.S. health authorities estimate that approximately 70% of the U.S. population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Earlier, on December 3, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stated in an interview with Fox News that "70% to 75% of the population needs to be vaccinated to benefit from herd immunity."
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