A recent study conducted by scientists in Israel revealed that majority of the population was reluctant to get vaccinated by recent breakthroughs being hailed as the answer to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
More than half of Israelis (52%) say they “think they would not” or are “convinced they would not” be vaccinated against the coronavirus if a vaccine becomes widely available, according to a new survey by the Israel Democracy Institute.
The survey found that less than one-quarter (21%) of Israelis would agree to be vaccinated during the first round, and another 18.7% “think they would agree.” The rest of the population said they did not know.
The survey was released following two American and one Russian company – Pfizer, Moderna and Russian Direct Investment Fund – announcing that an interim analysis of their Phase III clinical trials found more than 90% efficacy.
Israel has contracts to receive several million doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer candidates, if successful.
The IDI survey also found that Israelis are more optimistic this month than last month. Some 55% of Israelis are optimistic about the country’s ability to overcome the current crisis.
The lowest level of optimism was found in September (45%).Still, the majority (68%) of Israelis are greatly or moderately worried about getting infected or one of their family members getting infected with coronavirus. Only 11% of Israelis are not worried at all.
Moreover, there continues to be a lack of trust in those people who are managing the crisis. Specifically, the survey found that more than one-third (36.4%) of Israelis have no trust in Netanyahu.
Some 21.4% have little trust.Only 41% of Israelis think the current level of restrictions are appropriate, 29% think the restrictions are too severe and 22% think the restrictions are not severe enough.
Eight percent said they did not know. Among Jews, the ultra-Orthodox were most inclined to think the restrictions were too severe: 43%.
