COVID-19 Vaccination: 9 Questions on the Patient Perspective
SAMPLE: Approximately what percentage of US adults plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine once one becomes available? And 8 more questions on the patient perspective.
With the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine receiving emergency use authorization in the US, COVID-19 vaccination is top of mind for every American. Before a vaccine received approval, however, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research surveyed 1117 US adults aged ≥18 years between December 3-7, 2020, to find out what Americans think about COVID-19 vaccination.
How many Americans said they plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19? Does the public favor health care professionals receiving high priority for a vaccine? Answers and more key results in the 9-question quiz below.
Question 1. Approximately what percentage of US adults plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine once one becomes available?
Answer: C. 47%. Overall, 47% of respondents said they plan to get inoculated against COVID-19 when a vaccine becomes available, 26% do not plan to vaccinate, and 27% are unsure.
Question 2. True or false? Respondents who worry that they or someone in their household will get COVID-19 were more likely to say they plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer: A. True. Among respondents who plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine, 60% said they are “extremely/very worried” that they or someone in their household will become infected with COVID-19 vs 48% who are “somewhat worried” and 24% who are “not too/not at all worried."
Question 3. True or false? Among respondents who plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 57% will wait until others have received the vaccine to ascertain that it is safe.
Answer: A. True. Fifty-seven percent of respondents who plan to get vaccinated will wait until others have received it to ensure it’s safety, while 42% would like to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.
Question 4. Approximately what percentage of US adults are extremely/very confident that a COVID-19 vaccine, when available, will be distributed fairly?
Answer: B. 20%. Few respondents were very or extremely confident that the first available COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed fairly (20%), quickly and safely (22%), or be properly tested for safety and effectiveness (28%).
Question 5. Which of the above racial groups is least likely to plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
Answer: C. Black. When asked if they plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 24% of Black respondents said “yes” vs 53% of white respondents and 34% of Hispanic respondents.
Question 6. Which of the above age groups is most likely to plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
Answer: D. ≥60 years. When asked if they plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 62% of respondents aged ≥60 years said “yes,” followed by 51% of those aged 45-59 years, 37% of those aged 18-29 years, and 36% of those aged 30-44 years.
Question 7. Most respondents (90%) said which of the above groups should be given high priority for getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: D. Health care workers. When asked who should be given a high priority for getting the COVID-19 vaccine, 90% of respondents said health care workers, followed by 86% who said nursing home workers and residents, 83% who said people who are high risk because of medical issues, and 82% who said first responders.
Question 8. Which of the above communities did the majority of respondents say should be high priority for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: B. Communities with large populations or people with high-risk jobs. Approximately 88% of respondents said communities with large populations or people with high-risk jobs should have a higher priority for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Question 9. True or false? Anthony S. Fauci, MD, is the most trusted source of information about COVID-19 vaccines among US adults.
Answer: B. False. For COVID-19 vaccine information, 58% of respondents said they trust health care professionals “a great deal/quite a bit;” 48% said they same for Dr Anthony Fauci, 46% for the CDC, and 41% for the FDA.
