As scientists are eyeing the finish line in the months-long race to develop a viable coronavirus vaccine, a new study has revealed that 57 percent of Californians would likely roll up their sleeves for a shot if it were available today.

The study, which surveyed more than seventeen hundred individuals and conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, showed that a majority in the state would either “definitely” or “probably” get a coronavirus vaccine. 

Different levels of hesitation in getting a vaccine were apparent among racial groups as well. Twenty-nine percent of Black respondents said they would likely take a vaccine if it were available, followed by 54 percent of those who identified as Latino, 62 percent of Whites, and 70 percent of Asian Americans.

Researchers involved with the study noted that there is a margin of error of roughly 3.5 percent.

Last week, in an effort to assuage any vaccine-related safety concerns, California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a statewide scientific safety review workgroup of medical and scientific experts who will examine whether a vaccine is safe and effective before it’s distributed across the state.

Similar rates of vaccine participation were seen in other recent studies. According to a Pew Research Center survey last month, nearly half of U.S. adults (49 percent) say they definitely or probably would not get a coronavirus vaccine at this time.

The intent to get a vaccine has fallen from 72 percent in May—a sizeable 21-percentage point drop. The share of respondents who would definitely get a vaccine now sits at just 21 percent.

Democrats and those who lean to that party are 14 percent more likely than their Republican counterparts to say they would probably or definitely get a vaccine (58 percent vs. 44 percent). 

“There are widespread public concerns about aspects of the vaccine development process,” the survey’s authors wrote. “On the heels of a pledge from nine pharmaceutical companies to ensure that a potential vaccine would meet rigorous standards, the Center survey finds three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) think it’s very or somewhat likely a coronavirus vaccine will be approved in the United States before its safety and effectiveness are fully understood.”  

Nearly 80 percent say their “greater concern” is that the pace of the vaccine-approval process will move too quickly, without fully proving safety and effectiveness. Just 20 percent are more concerned that the process will move too slowly.  

According to a recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 54 percent of respondents said they wouldn’t get vaccinated. A Gallup poll revealed that 35 percent of Americans would refuse a free coronavirus vaccine, even if it is approved by the FDA. And a Yahoo News/YouGov poll, conducted in late summer, found that only 42 percent of Americans are planning to get vaccinated. 

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.  

Image: Reuters