Less Than A Third Intend To Get Vaccinated: Survey

A pharmacists' group said on Sunday that the government should be publishing more information, in layman's terms, about the efficacy and safety of coronavirus vaccines, after a survey they conducted suggested that less than a third of people intend to get inoculated.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong survey found that 36 percent of the 838 people it questioned had not yet decided whether to get vaccinated, while 33 percent said they would not join a vaccination programme.

Younger people were more likely to say they would not be inoculated, and just 16 percent of female respondents said they would definitely take part in a vaccination programme.

"It is a concern," said the society's president, Dr William Chui. "The main reason is because they're afraid of the side effect and also the adverse drug reaction of the vaccine."

Of those who said they would not be vaccinated, 84 percent cited concerns about side effects and safety and 83 percent had doubts about the efficacy of "rushed" vaccines. Sixty-two percent said they would not consider getting vaccinated until the mass vaccination results from other countries confirmed that the jabs had no adverse side effects.

"We think the Hong Kong government can provide more information about the vaccine," Chui said. "The more accurate and more timely information is the key to success."

He said it was also critical for the government to translate the available clinical data into layman's terms. He suggested pharmacists, who are familiar with dealing with the public on a day-to-day basis, could help translate the data so it's easier for people to understand.

The society also asked people which of the three government-procured vaccines they would get. given the choice. Thirty-five percent either hadn’t decided, didn’t know or found it difficult to say, but 65 percent had made up their minds.

The vaccine from BioNTech was the most popular, with 60 percent. It was followed by the Sinovac vaccine, with 18 percent, and then the AstraZeneca vaccine with 15 percent.

The society said 458 people were asked about their preference between January 8 and 12, while 138 were asked between January 13 and 17 – after Brazil published clinical data showing the Sinovac vaccine had an efficacy rate of 50.4 percent.

Intent to take the Sinovac vaccine saw a sharp drop, but was still higher than the AstraZeneca jab.

Chui suggested this might be because the Sinovac vaccine relied on more familiar methods.

"The technology platform is actually an inactivate vaccine," he said. "People know that the inactivate technology is mature and like the influenza vaccine – they're using the same technology – so that's why, especially the elderly or the health-care professionals, they prefer to use the SInovac vaccine."