Now that the process is underway to vaccinate people against COVID-19, more Americans say they are eager to get a shot, according to a new Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index survey.
The poll this week shows that 60% of Americans are now saying they are likely to get the shot as soon as they are able to, up 8% since mid-December, indicating that some of the vaccine hesitancy was because people were wanting to wait and see about the vaccine and not digging in to oppose it, reports Axios.
- The numbers also represented a 20-point jump in Hispanic respondents, who said they are willing to get their vaccines immediately.
- Seniors also said they are open to getting a vaccine.
Last year, before vaccines were available, the Axios-Ipsos survey showed that people cared more about the vaccines being safe than about getting a shot immediately, but now that no serious safety issues are showing up, people are feeling safer about getting a shot.
People also appear more likely to want a shot as the pandemic spreads and people are dying:
- 44% of Hispanic Americans say they know someone who died of COVID-19.
- 34% of Black Americans say they know someone who died.
- 31% of white Americans say they know someone who died.
However, the divide in people who are willing to get shots promptly is still showing a political divide, with a much higher percentage of Democrats saying they are willing to be vaccinated right away, by 71% to 48% for Republicans.