Two in three Americans likely to get coronavirus vaccine

Washington, DC, September 20, 2020

According to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll, a majority of Americans remain concerned about getting infected with the coronavirus and plan to get a vaccine, once a safe and effective one is developed. However, both the level of concern about the virus and the number planning to be vaccinated have declined since late spring/early summer.

1. Fewer Americans report that it is likely that they will get a coronavirus vaccine than in early May. However, nearly two-thirds still plan to do so.

• Currently, 64% say it is very or somewhat likely they would be vaccinated if a safe and effective shot were developed. This is down from 74% in early May.
• Significantly more Democrats (80%) than Republicans (50%) say it is likely they would be vaccinated, and those with a college degree (79%) are more likely than those without (63% among those with some college education, 52% among those with a high school degree or less).

 2. Americans do not have confidence in either presidential candidate to confirm the safety and efficacy of a vaccine; instead, they are looking to members of the public health community – specifically the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

• A majority of Americans have confidence in Dr. Fauci, the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), the FDA, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to confirm that a potential vaccine is safe and effective. Trust is highest for Fauci (62%) and the CDC (61%).
• Confidence in most of these organizations is significantly higher among Democrats than Republicans, with fewer than half of Republicans trusting Fauci, the WHO and the CDC. Democrats and Republicans place equal levels of confidence in the FDA and the HHS.  
• Forty-one percent have a great deal or a good amount of confidence in Joe Biden, while just 27% say the same about President Donald Trump. A majority (58%) also believe Biden is more honest and trustworthy than Trump (39%).

 3. While a majority of Americans remain concerned about being infected with the virus, fewer are very concerned than they were a few months ago.

• Currently, 72% of Americans are concerned that they, or someone they know, will be infected with the coronavirus, compared to 77% in late July.
• Twenty-nine percent are very concerned, down eight percentage points over the same time period.
• Democrats and Americans over age 65 are more likely to report feeling very concerned.

About the Study

This ABC News/Ipsos poll was conducted September 18 to September 19, 2020 by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 528 general population adults age 18 or older.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population.

The study was conducted in both English and Spanish. The data were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity, education, Census region, metropolitan status, household income, and party identification. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2019 March supplement of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS). Party ID benchmarks are from recent ABC News/Washington Post telephone polls. The weighting categories were as follows:

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18–29, 30–44, 45–59, and 60+)
• Race/Hispanic Ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Other or 2+ Races Non-Hispanic, Hispanic)
• Education (High School graduate or less, Some College, Bachelor and beyond)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• Metropolitan status (Metro, non-Metro)
• Household Income (Under $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000+)
• Party ID (Democrat, Republican, Independent, Something else)

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.3. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on sub-samples. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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