Most Will Take COVID-19 Vaccine, But Some Skeptical: MN Survey

MINNESOTA — With the first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine set to arrive in Minnesota next week, most of the more than 300 readers who took Patch's survey say they intend to get vaccinated against the disease, but some admitted they are wary or concerned about how quickly the vaccines were produced.

Just a year after the emergence of the coronavirus — which has since killed more than 1.5 million people worldwide and 282,000 in the U.S. — two vaccines against the illness are likely to be approved in the coming days.

Minnesota hospitals and other "hub" sites are set to receive the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines in the coming days. Once the doses arrive at the hubs — which are spread out throughout Minnesota — the vaccine will be distributed further to smaller hospitals, clinics, and other "spokes."

At that point, health care workers can begin administering the vaccine. Minnesotans who are "most susceptible to serious complications" and health care workers are first in line to be vaccinated.

An overwhelming number of Minnesota Patch readers who responded to the survey — almost 70 percent — say they believe in vaccination and try to stay up to date on their own, with a small minority, just 3.3 percent, saying they don't believe in vaccination at all.

Another 13.2 percent said that "I mistrust vaccination and generally avoid it," and 11.6 percent said, "I believe in vaccination but don't always keep my own vaccines up to date."

Similarly, nearly 72.3 percent of those who took Patch's survey said they already got a flu shot this year or intend to get one.

As for whether they intend to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, 57 percent said they will get a vaccine at the earliest opportunity. Others were more cautious, with 19.9 percent saying they will get one, but only after it's been in use long enough to make sure it's safe and effective. Just over 19 percent said they won't get one at all, and the remaining 3.6 percent of those who responded said they aren't sure.

Meanwhile, more than half of Patch readers (55 percent) said that vaccine development is "a great example of how science and government can work together for the public good." But almost 30 percent said they feel the project was rushed and that they're worried the safety of the vaccines may be compromised.

More than 50 percent of readers said the Trump administration's involvement in the vaccine development made them "neither more nor less confident" in the vaccine.

More than 56 percent of readers said they trust "medical and scientific experts outside the Trump administration" the most.

Reader comments

Patch readers were also given the opportunity to leave comments regarding their thoughts on COVID-19 vaccines in general. Many said they trust those behind the development of the vaccines and that they will get vaccinated regardless of which vaccine they receive, but some were skeptical.

• "I intend to get vaccinated in spite of Trumps' involvement. He has consistently lied and provided misinformation regarding the coronavirus and the development of the vaccines! Fortunately for all of us the vetting process of vaccine safety and efficacy, though hurried, was done properly."
• "I put my trust in the scientific community and Dr. Fauci, if he says it's good I go along with what he says."
• "Pharmaceutical companies have lied in the past about their drugs. Our government has lied to the American people. I am African American and am aware of various experiments that have been done on African Americans. I’m finding it difficult to find information from doctors and scientists who do not support the COVID19 vaccine. Are those in power preventing the American people from hearing info from those pro/anti-vaccine?"
• "I feel it takes years to develop and years after given to know the real side effects and information on vaccines."
• "Trump is the most incompetent & narcissistic buffoon who is destroying this country. His selfish careless & reckless behavior has caused more Lives to be lost during this pandemic. He will go down in history as the worst most irresponsible president of the USA."
• "Political views should have nothing to do with the pandemic and vaccines. Trump is an idiot."
• "The vaccine is the first step to returning us to normality. Everyone should support vaccinations."
• "I am from the Polio era...get the vaccination!"
• "I will not take a liability-free vaccine!"
• "Family history - grandparents on both sides of the family lost siblings in 1918 flu. Dad lost a brother to polio. Yes - vaccinate."

Shannon Antinori, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.

Note: Patch's survey was not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but was meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.