Experts: Educational effort may cut shot hesitancy
A recent survey found Americans’ willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine may be determined by its medical effectiveness as well as politics.
According to the survey of nearly 2,000 adults, published Tuesday in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Network Open, people were most swayed by vaccine efficacy, adverse effects and duration of protection.
Researchers at Cornell University found that Americans were about 16% more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine if it was 90% effective instead of 50%.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it would approve any vaccine that is at least 50% effective at preventing infection or reducing disease severity, roughly the same efficacy as the annual flu shot.
Americans were about 7% more likely to get the vaccine if incidence of major adverse effects was 1 in 1 million as opposed to 1 in 10,000, and about 5% were more likely to get the vaccine if its duration of protection was five years instead of one.
“We want something that has a very low rate of side effects and as high efficacy as possible,” said Aubree Gordon, associate professor at University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Experts are optimistic these survey results are an indicator more information and education can overcome vaccine hesitancy.
“A lot of hesitancy is due to legitimate concerns,” said Dr. Christopher Gill, infectious disease specialist and associate professor of global health at Boston University School of Public Health. “If that’s true, then we have an opportunity here because that kind of data can be shown in a transparent way.”
But there’s also a political component.
According to the survey, Americans would be more willing to get the vaccine if it was endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization than if it was endorsed by any of the candidates running for president.
The probability of choosing a vaccine was lowest when it was recommended by President Donald Trump, but people were only about 2% more likely to get a
vaccine when it was endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has been incredibly politicized and … it bleeds over to the vaccine,” Gordon said.
Additionally, respondents were about 3% less likely to get the vaccine it was approved through an emergency use authorization by the FDA than if it went through the full regulatory process.
The news comes as polls suggest vaccine fears are growing. According to one from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only 46% of Americans want a COVID-19 vaccine; another 29% are unsure.
“I am very concerned about hesitancy regarding COVID vaccine,” said Dr.
William Schaffner, a vaccine specialist at Vanderbilt University.
“If the politicians would stand back and let the scientific process work, I think we’d all be better off.”
“A lot of hesitancy is due to legitimate concerns. If that’s true, then we have an opportunity here because that kind of data can be shown in a transparent way.” Dr. Christopher Gill Infectious disease specialist and associate professor of global health at Boston University School of Public Health
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.