Most Americans Say They Will Get a Covid-19 Vaccine
What the data really shows
Cases of Covid-19 passed 20 million this week and over 164,500 people have died from the infection in the United States. The mad rush to develop, test, and distribute a vaccine is ongoing and high stakes. While there’s no approved vaccine for American use (Russia says it has approved a vaccine, but scientists are skeptical of its safety and effectiveness), there are already questions about whether enough people will get the vaccine to gain population-wide protection. The concerns are valid, but while many headlines have lamented the number of Americans who say they won’t get vaccinated, a closer look at the data reveals a more encouraging story.
Vaccine hesitancy in the United States is higher than it has been in the past, and in some cases, it’s resulted in the spread of preventable diseases like the measles. Productively engaging with people who are hesitant about getting vaccines or vaccinating their children is critical public health work, and should be ongoing. Vaccines are one of the most important tools for keeping people safe and healthy.
While hand wringing over anti-vaxxers is warranted, the reporting on recent data on vaccine sentiments could use some nuance. There’s been much coverage over a recent Gallup Poll survey that found 35% of Americans would…
