Infographic – High Hopes for Covid-19 Therapy, Vaccine

Click on image for full-size view (Pew Research Center)

6 June 2020. Sizeable majorities of Americans expect to see treatments and a vaccine for Covid-19 in the next 12 months, but also another outbreak of the disease. The Pew Research Center reported those findings from a survey of adults in the U.S. taken in late April and early May, and displayed in this weekend’s infographic on Science & Enterprise.

More than eight in 10 respondents (83%) say there will definitely or probably be an effective treatment or cure for Covid-19 infections in the next 12 months, while more than seven in 10 (73%) definitely or probably expect to see a vaccine to prevent those infections. However, an equally large percentage (83%) also anticipate another coronavirus outbreak in the next 12 months. And seven in 10 respondents (69%) expect the intense focus on Covid-19 will delay progress on other medical treatments.

As of late April and early May, a solid majority of American adults (72%) say they would definitely or probably get a Covid-19 vaccine if it were available today, but the choice is not universal, with more than a quarter (27%) saying they would not get the vaccine. While the question is hypothetical at this point, the sizeable minority reluctant to get a Covid-19 vaccine suggests public health authorities will need vaccines with strong safety records, and should be prepared to mount an effective education campaign to get people vaccinated.

The Pew Research Center conducted the survey between 29 April and 5 May, among 10,957 U.S. adults taking part in its American Trends Panel. Participants were recruited from random sampling of residential addresses, with questionnaires answered online.

More from Science & Enterprise:

• Infographic – Major Cities Far Short of Herd Immunity
• Infographic – Worries Continue About Public Activities
• Infographic – U.S. Public Divided on Contact Tracking

*     *     *