Most Will Get COVID-19 Vaccine, But Skeptics Remain: MI Survey

MICHIGAN — Michigan could be receiving its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as next week, and more than 440 readers who took Michigan Patch's online survey this week said they would be vaccinated against the virus at the earliest opportunity. Some skeptics remained, however, as some said they believed the process of creating a vaccine against the virus was rushed.

Two COVID-19 vaccines — developed by Pfizer and Moderna have submitted requests for emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and could soon be approved. In Michigan, officials are estimating that the state will receive 84,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 and about 173,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Michigan's Chief Medical Executive and MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said her team is going to focus on the distribution of the vaccine to the most vulnerable populations, frontline workers, and educators. The initial groups to be vaccinated will be critical workers in the state's health care systems, including those working in hospitals, first responders, officials said.

"One of the most important things every adult should be doing now is planning for how they will get the vaccine when it becomes available to them," Khaldun said.

Most readers of Michigan Patch who took the survey said they would be getting vaccinated for COVID-19. The majority of those who said they'd get the vaccine (over 62 percent) said they would do so at their first opportunity. However, 22 percent said they would get it after it has been administered enough to know it's safe. Nearly 12 percent of those who took the survey said they would not get the vaccine.

"I'll be waiting in line the night before!" one person who took Michigan Patch's survey said.

"I will take a vaccine once it is approved by medical experts outside of the current administration," another said.

Most Surveyed Said They Believe Vaccinations Work

Of the people who took Michigan Patch's survey, an overwhelming number (nearly 80 percent) said they believe in vaccination and try to keep their own vaccines up to date. Almost 11 percent of those surveyed said they believe in vaccination but don't always keep their own vaccines up to date.

A common vaccine pushed my state health officials each year is the Flu vaccine. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer previously said the state is encouraging residents to get their flu shot, with the goal of giving 33 percent more flu vaccines this year.

"Preventing the flu will help us save lives and preserve the healthcare resources that we will need this fall to continue fighting COVID-19," Whitmer said previously. "Every year, hundreds of thousands of people get hospitalized with the flu.

More than 82 percent of people who filled out Michigan Patch's survey said they get or will get the flu vaccine this year.

"The shot will be a hopeful help, it’s better than having nothing," one respondent said.

Vaccinations In Schools

Many people disagree about the role of vaccinations in school. According to the results of the Michigan Patch survey, most people surveyed (44.3 percent) think vaccinations should be required for all children attending school. Just over 39 percent said they believe vaccination should be required for all children, with limited exceptions. Nearly 20 percent said vaccines should be given at the parent's sole discretion.

COVID-19 Vaccine Process

Most people surveyed by Michigan Patch said the Development of several vaccines was aided by the federal government support as part of "Operation Warp Speed." More than 58 percent said it's a great example of how science and government can work together for the public good. But skeptics remain; over 24 percent said the process was rushed and that they worry that safety might have been compromised.

Some people said they felt less confident in the process of creating the COVID-19 vaccine due in part to President Donald Trump's involvement in "Operation Warp Speed." However, the majority of those surveyed said they felt neither more nor less confident due to that.

"I don't trust the Trump administration or their role in vaccines," one person who took the survey said. "However, I do trust the scientists working at the companies that developed the vaccines. I am comfortable getting the vaccines because of that trust."

Who Do People Trust When It Comes To COVID-19?

The majority of people who took Michigan Patch's survey said that when it comes to getting information about the COVID-19 vaccine and the pandemic in general, they trust medical and scientific experts above others.

President Trump was the least trusted option chosen by those surveyed, with just under 7 percent saying they trusted COVID-19 information from him.