Most Floridians Plan To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine: Patch Survey

Miami FL

07 December, 2020

10:40 AM

Description

FLORIDA — With FDA approval of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine expected any day now, followed closely by approval for the Moderna vaccine, most Floridians who responded to a Patch survey said they plan to get vaccinated. Some readers also expressed concerns about President Donald Trump and his administration's involvement in the creation of the vaccine, as well as his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 1,400 people responded to the online survey last week. While not a scientific poll, the survey presents a broad idea of public sentiment regarding the vaccine. Nearly 82 percent of those who responded said they'd get the vaccine, but there was some question about when they'd get it. More than half – around 56 percent – said they'd get vaccinated as soon as they were allowed to do so. Another 25 percent of respondents said they'd wait to see how safe and effective the vaccines are. One respondent, a pre-kindergarten teacher who works with students with disabilities and other adult teachers, said, "We all wear masks, socially distance and wash (our) hands we are all ok!!! But in order to be 100 percent safe we all need the vaccine for life to go on!" Another respondent expressed concerns about the vaccine, though, and said that "so many questions about the efficacy, the longevity and interaction with other meds have not been addressed. We must be cautiously optimistic and weigh our individual lifestyle professionally, as well as personally." "I am a physician, and know the importance of vaccines, but I will wait just a little, not long enough to make sure it is safe and effective, but like I said, I will not be the first in line," another reader said. Around 76 percent of respondents said they generally believe in vaccinations, and about 78 percent plan to get a flu vaccine this year. Respondents were more divided about mandatory vaccinations for children, though. About 49 percent of those who responded thinks vaccinations should be required only for children attending school, while 34 percent believe all children, with some exceptions, should be vaccinated. Another 17 percent think vaccinations shouldn't be mandatory and that the parents should make that decision. The development of several coronavirus vaccines is funded through the federal government's Operation Warp Speed program. Most survey respondents — 57 percent — lauded the partnership between the government and scientific partners. Another 27 percent, though, said they were concerned the process was rushed. And the involvement of Trump's administration in the process of creating these vaccines had respondents torn. Around 36 percent of respondents were less confident in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine because of his administration's involvement, while 23 percent said this inspired more confidence in the vaccines for them. Meanwhile, about 41 percent said his involvement didn't affect their feelings about the vaccine. One respondent said Operation Warp Speed is great "in spite of Trump's role. I trust the medical experts only." "What motivated the pharmaceutical companies more than Trump were the possible profits and the positive publicity about their companies," another respondent said. "While Trump and the United States are major players in the pandemic, pharmaceutical companies are more interested in saving, and thus, impressing, the world." Another respondent said they felt "safer" that there was no announcement or release of the vaccine before the Nov. 3 election. "I believe the scientists, and believe it wasn't politically motivated," they said. "I also trust the incoming administration more with handling of the distribution. I cannot wait to have more trustworthy people at the helm." Another respondent said, "Trump is a compulsive liar and con man. Anything he touches is suspect." Some praised Trump's involvement with the Operation Warp Speed initiative, though. One respondent wrote, "Without the business acumen and the knowledge of President Trump project warp speed would never have happened. A career politician could never have conceived of the plan. Our county would still be floundering." Another reader, who said they voted for neither Trump nor President-elect Joe Biden, said that "Trump deserves much credit for helping to streamline and incentivize the vaccine development process. This was clearly the most important strategy for the federal government. The vaccine development process appears to have been rigorous and we will have only the media and some politicians to blame for any lack of confidence in the new vaccines." When seeking information about the COVID-19 pandemic, more survey respondents expressed more confidence in medical experts outside the Trump administration rather than Trump or medical experts working with him. "Trump deserves 100 percent credit for the unparalleled development of the vaccine at a record time," one respondent said. "However, his strategy of containing the virus has been off base and his treatment of the medical experts from the various federal agencies has been atrocious and very unpresidential." Meanwhile, another respondent said that "only well-documented and peer-reviewed scientific data should be used when making decisions on the use and effectiveness of this or any other vaccine." About 13 percent said they trusted information coming from Trump, and another 27 percent said they listened to information coming from medical and scientific experts within his administration. The majority of respondents said they look outside his administration for reliable coronavirus information, though. Around 53 percent of those who took the survey said they prefer to get their information from medical and scientific experts outside the Trump administration. About 52 percent specifically said they trust information coming from Dr. Anthony Fauci, a physician and immunologist who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Trump has butted heads with Fauci, a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, throughout the pandemic. Another 23 percent of respondents said they trust Dr. Deborah Birx, a physician and diplomat who has served as the United States global AIDS coordinator. She's also the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force.