Confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine grows in UK and US, but global concerns about side effects are on the rise

Confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine grows in UK and US, but global concerns about side effects are on the rise

The latest World Economic Forum-Ipsos survey on vaccine confidence shows that strong intent to get a COVID-19 vaccine has risen in the UK and the US, two countries where vaccines have started to be administered.

However, vaccine confidence has dropped in most other countries surveyed.

The main reason people say they would not get a COVID-19 vaccine is concern about side effects.



The first COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered around the world, offering hope that an end to the pandemic could be in sight.

Yet challenges to ensuring an inclusive, effective distribution of the vaccines remain. Even in countries where vaccines stand to increasingly be available to wider sections of the population, one hurdle will be public resistance to vaccination.

The latest World Economic Forum-IPSOS survey on vaccine confidence offers an optimistic sign that attitudes toward vaccines could change. According to the survey, strong intent to be vaccinated has risen in the US and the UK, following the release of the vaccine in the two countries.

At the same time, vaccine confidence has dropped in many other countries, according to the 15-country survey conducted 17-20 December among 13,500 adults.



Vaccine confidence around the world

According to the