Oct 1, 2020 - Health

New poll shows alarming coronavirus vaccine skepticism

Sam Baker

Illustration of gloved fingers crossed making the cancel sign — Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Lack of trust in a potential coronavirus vaccine is becoming a truly major problem, according to a new Stat/Harris Poll survey shared with Axios.

By the numbers: 79% of respondents said they would worry about a vaccine's safety if it's approved quickly, and 75% said they worry about politics — rather than science — driving the process.

Our thought bubble: This is an unprecedented process to control a new virus. It's essential that people have confidence in the tools that will help us end this pandemic — and it's essential for that confidence to be warranted.

President Trump's continued promises of imminent authorization and rapid distribution clearly aren't helping, even though the quick discovery of a safe and effective vaccine would, in fact, be the best-case scenario.

Yes, but: 54% of those polled said they'd get a vaccine as soon as they can, and 58% of parents said they'd get their kids vaccinated as soon as possible.

So maybe some of this concern is more theoretical.

Methodology: The survey was conducted online from Sept. 24-26, among a nationally representative sample of 1,971 US. adults.

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New poll shows alarming coronavirus vaccine skepticism

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