76% of UAE residents believe vaccine will bring life back to normal in a year, says survey
A health official checks the blood pressure of an elderly man.
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
A new survey of UAE residents about vaccination for COVID-19 has placed safety, no major side effects and keeping their family safe as the three most important reasons for taking the vaccine. The people believe life will return to normal within a year, thanks to the vaccine.
The results were revealed in a quantitative online survey by YouGov commissioned by G42 Healthcare which is at the forefront in the battle against COVID-19 in conducting the 4Humanity clinical trials and supporting the distribution of the Sinopharm CNBG vaccine.
A total of 1,011 respondents from the UAE, representative of the nation’s demographics, were polled in the survey to assess current perceptions, individual expectations and considerations on taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
Over 80 per cent of the respondents who have vaccinated opted for the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine, the survey discovered – reinforcing the ongoing successful rollout of the national vaccination programme
Safety remains the top determinant when opting for a vaccine with 52 per cent of those surveyed claiming safety and efficacy as the key motivators to take the vaccination. This is followed by lack of any major side effects coming in at a close second with 50 per cent. Responsibility towards keeping their family safe and protection against new variants of the virus both tied in at 47 per cent, while 46 per cent of respondents cited free availability of the vaccine at multiple locations as among the top five reasons to why they would choose to get vaccinated.
With a population of under 10 million that is home to over 200 nationalities, 37 per cent of respondents were motivated to take the vaccine as national duty, and 33 per cent said they would vaccinate as social duty contributing as global citizens.
Over 80 per cent of the respondents who have vaccinated, opted for the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine, the survey discovered – reinforcing the ongoing successful rollout of the national vaccination programme in the UAE that has seen a rate of over 51.43 doses administered per 100 people to date.
Understanding who the public trusts for reliable vaccine information is critical for any national COVID-19 vaccination effort and in this case the success of the trials and vaccine uptake was reinforced in the poll by the findings that Government websites are considered the most trusted channel for the vaccine and COVID-19 information with over 60 per cent consulting UAE Health Authority websites before opting for the jab.
Commenting on the results, G42 Healthcare CEO Ashish Koshy said: “This independent public survey demonstrates the collective will of the UAE public to get vaccinated, and why it is so important to undertake the clinical trials and scientific studies here in the UAE in association with UAE health authorities.
“The results show that we have an informed public that is making choices based on science, their personal considerations, and their contribution to their communities and society. We are truly encouraged and will continue our collaborative efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The survey showcases that while choosing to vaccinate remains a personal prerogative, there’s recognition of its global impact and the ramifications across communities and countries. Today the UAE has administered over 5 million doses since the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced the official registration of the Inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, that has been subject to Phase III Trials in the UAE since July, in a major step towards combating the global pandemic.
