Survey finds one in 10 would not want vaccine
ONE in 10 people in Wales would not want to be vaccinated against coronavirus if it became available, it has been revealed.
A new national engagement survey conducted by Public Health Wales (PHW) found that 83% of people would choose to be vaccinated against Covid-19, 10% would not and 7% are unsure.
Among those with children, more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents said that they would want their children to be vaccinated, 8% answered no and 13% are unsure.
There is currently no vaccine available to protect against the infection, but Wales is playing an important role in vaccine trials currently under way across the UK.
The latest survey report from PHW covers the period between July 20 and 26 when 604 people took part.
The poll also showed that people are leaving their homes more often, having more social contact and using more self-protective practices.
Some 42% of people reported having left their home every day in the last week (up from 34% in week 14 of the survey covering July 6-12).
Furthermore, nearly half (44%) of people said they had come into close contact (within one metre) with at least three people from outside their household or extended household in the last seven days.
More than half (54%) of people said that they had washed their hands with soap and water or used hand sanitiser more than 10 times on the day before the survey – up from 51% in week 14.
The results also showed that 77% of people think that the restrictions in place to manage the outbreak are “about right”, up from 74% in week 14.
Professor Karen Hughes, who coordinates the survey for Public Health Wales, said: “There is a huge amount of work under way to try and develop a vaccine against Covid-19, and it is very positive to see that more than eight out of 10 people in Wales would want to be vaccinated if such a vaccine did become available.
“A vaccine should help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and would hopefully help protect those who are most vulnerable to severe complications if they were to contract the virus.
“The survey also shows us how people are starting to leave their homes more often, meet with family and friends and have more close social contact.
“It is encouraging that selfprotective behaviours are also increasing, such as regular hand washing. However, the threat we face from coronavirus is still very real.
“Successfully navigating our way out of lockdown requires the optimism and enthusiasm people feel for a return to normal life to be matched with continued commitment to follow the latest guidance.”
Each week, Public Health Wales conducts interviews with hundreds of people aged 18 or over across Wales to understand how coronavirus and the measures being used to prevent its spread are affecting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of people in Wales.