COVID-19 impact: Willingness to get vaccine doubled in the last 10 months

ISLAMABAD: Six in ten Pakistanis have suffered a reduction in their income during the Covid-19 pandemic; sixty-two percent of the respondents said their household income had declined; 11pc stated it had increased while 28pc experienced no change. These were the findings of a survey conducted by Ipsos.

The survey revealed that only one in six Pakistanis considered the current pace of vaccination to be satisfactory while one in four were ignorant of the vaccination process itself.

Titled ‘Awareness and Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 vaccine’, the survey, with a a sample size of 1003, was carried out between April 25 and May 2, 2021.

About the pace of vaccination, 23% respondents said they were not aware of it; 27% said it was extremely low; 17% described it as ‘pretty decent’ and 33% found it reasonable.

Seven in ten Pakistanis surveyed did not know how to get registered for the vaccination at all suggesting that much more communication is needed to fix this lack of awareness. Sixty-eight percent said they did not know how to get registered; 32% stated they knew the process; 13% sent their computerized national identity card (CNIC) numbers to the helpline 1166; 11% said walk into the nearest centre and get vaccinated; 6% expressed the view that the vaccinator will visit their homes; and one percent stated that one must visit the National Immunization Management System (NIMS) website.

The survey showed that actual statistics point to a worsening Covid-19 situation but threat perceptions seem to be declining amongst Pakistanis. The ground reality is that there were 35,000+ reported cases and 800+ deaths in May 2020 which rose to 875,000+ cases and 19,000+ deaths until May 2021 respectively.

About perceptions, in May 2020 44% took the coronavirus as a personal threat while 34% felt it was a threat a year later. The threat to Pakistan was rated at 66% in May 2020 while it was 48% in May 2021.

The survey shows that Pakistanis require an intensive communication campaigns by the government to prevent the further spread of Covid-19. Respondents listed the important steps for the prevention of Covid-19 that the federal government should take in the third wave. Twenty-five percent recommended the launch of an intensive communication campaign for people to observe compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs); 14% called for imposing fines on those not complying with SOPs; 13% prescribed a complete ban on all kinds of intra- and inter-cityy transport; 11% each proposed a strict lockdown on movement and a ban on inbound international flights; 9% each demanded closing shops, businesses, other commercial centres and all educational institutions for any in-person activities; and 7% suggested the sealing of borders with neighbouring countries.

The survey said in the last year, the segment of unaffected Pakistanis shrunk to half, while preparedness among people increased significantly.

Twenty nine percent of respondents had stated in May 2020 that the pandemic had not reached their areas and there were no restrictions so far, while 16% voiced this view a year later. Six percent said in May 2020 they were getting ready for new restrictions as against 25% later.

Nineteen percent stated in May 2020 they were reacting day by day to new restrictions and establishing new routines while the same percentage remained unchanged a year later.

About acclimatisation, 18% said they have adapted to the restrictions and have settled into new routines while in May 2021 this percentage increased to 22%. Nineteen percent said they saw signs that things are improving and that some restrictions will soon be loosened while a year later 25% expressed this opinion. Seven percent felt that the pandemic is behind them and they were moving on with their life as compared to 11% later.

The good news, according to the survey, is that willingness to get the Covid-19 vaccine doubled among Pakistanis during the last 10 months. But three in ten people are still opposed to inoculation.

The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with getting inoculated if a vaccine were available. Sixty-three percent disagreed and 37% agreed in Aug 2020; 38% disagreed and 62% agreed in Nov 2020; 40% disagreed, 60% agreed in Dec 2020; 39% disagreed and 61% agreed in March 2021; and 30% disagreed and 70% agreed in May 2021.

About not taking the vaccines, 28% said they were worried about the side effects in Oct 2020 and 29% in May 2021; 27% were against vaccines in general in Oct 2020 and 15% in May 2021; 23% said in Oct 2020 that vaccines are not effective and 6% aired this view in May 2021; and 20% said in Oct 2020 they were not at risk from the coronavirus and 9% gave this view in May 2021.

The survey noted that not only has the reluctance towards vaccination reduced, the intention to get vaccinated soon has also improved.

When asked when they would get vaccinated once the Covid-19 vaccine becomes available, 19% said, in March 2021, that they wwould not get it while this percentage came down to 13% three months later.

In March 2021, 13% were not sure if they would get vaccinated while in May 2021, this percentage stood at 16%. Fifteen percent said in March 2021 that they would get inoculated immediately as against 21% three months later.

In March 2021, 2% said after the availability of vaccines, they would get inoculated after two years or more while three months later 5% aired such a view. Similarly, in March 2021, 9% said after one year to less than 2 years while this percentage came down to 6% in May 2021. In March 2021, 14% said they would get themselves vaccinated after six months or less than one year while in May 2021 11% said so. In March 2021, 13% respondents said they would get themselves inoculated after three months to less than six months while 9% aired this view three months later.

Seven percent said in March 2021 that they would get vaccinated in one month to less than three months and in May 2021 8% stated this; 8% said they would do so after less than one month in March 2021 while this percentage went to 11% in May 2021.