More than half of unvaccinated Ukrainians want to stay that way, according to a new study published on Nov. 3 by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Only 42.3% of unvaccinated Ukrainians want to get the shot while 54.6% don’t and 3.1% responded that it’s hard to say.
However, the study found that 60% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude towards vaccination and 62% agree that inoculation is necessary.
Right now, less than 20% of Ukrainians are fully vaccinated; 25% have received the first of two shots.
Reluctant Ukrainians underestimate the risks of COVID-19, believe various myths about the vaccine or want to avoid additional shots if they become required, according to UNICEF.
Unwilling people do not trust vaccines, believe that they carry more risks than COVID-19 itself or don’t want to experience difficult side effects.
Almost a quarter of reluctant people believe they have contraindications against COVID-19 vaccination. Deputy Health Minister Ihor Kuzin said that contraindications of this kind appear in less than 1% of the population.
The study also found that pro-vaccine Ukrainians trust family doctors’ suggestions. Thus, 87% of vaccinated Ukrainians and 77% of those who want to get vaccinated are following their doctor’s advice.
Among people who don’t want to vaccinate, there is a different picture. More than half of them wouldn’t trust a doctor’s advice.
Of the people who got vaccinated, 65% did it to prevent coronavirus complications, while 14% said they did it at the recommendation of their school or workplace.
The study was conducted in September and October by Info Sapiens research agency with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the World Bank. A total of 2,006 people over 18 years of age were interviewed by phone in all regions except Crimea and occupied territories.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, people who are vaccinated are five times less likely to get infected and 10 times less likely to be hospitalized. In Ukraine, close to 95% of people who were hospitalized due to complications from the disease have not been vaccinated.
