DENVER – While Colorado continues to launch the COVID-19 vaccine and with nearly 6,000 people killed in the state from the virus, a recently released survey found that only about 1 in 3 Colorado Republicans plan to be vaccinated when doses are low. available to them.
The survey, which was conducted by Magellan Strategies of Louisville, involved an online survey of 769 Colorado registered voters interviewed February 9-17, with a margin of error of ± 3.53%.
But the question of whether or not a person would receive the vaccine when it became available was raised for 420 of respondents who had not yet been vaccinated, and the results carry a margin of error of ± 4.78%.
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The poll was weighted based on demographic data from registered voters in Colorado, the company said.
In total, 55% of people who asked if they planned to be vaccinated said yes, 34% said no and 9% of respondents said they were not sure.
But the party’s split was notable: Eighty-eight percent of Democrats said they planned to get vaccinated, compared to 57% of non-affiliated voters and only 29% of Republicans who were interviewed.
Rural voters (23% yes) and Trump voters (24% yes) said they were much less likely to be vaccinated compared to suburban women (61% yes) and four-year college voters (68% yes).
The survey also asked people – identified only by their location, sex, generation and voter registration – why they would not be vaccinated or would hesitate to do so.
These responses showed the perceptions of some people not only in Colorado, but across the state, that local and state officials have tried to combat as misinformation is spread about alleged dangers of vaccines and viruses – all of which are currently in use have received approval. and an emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.
“Scientists and real doctors fear that vaccines have not been tested adequately for safety and effectiveness. Many side effects and deaths have been reported, ”said a woman from the Silent Generation who is a rural Republican.
“Not tested. It changes the DNA. IT IS NOT NECESSARY. The current percentage of recovery from COVID is 98% without vaccine,” said a male baby boomer who is an urban Republican.
The concerns and hesitations were not limited to Republicans, however.
“I made an appointment for the vaccine to be administered, but I’m not sure it’s safe for me to do it,” said a Democratic baby boomer who lives in a small town.
“I’m healthy, it’s probably best to give it to people who need it,” said a suburban non-affiliated Millennial.
But the party divisions seen in the question of whether a person would be vaccinated have extended to other issues related to coronavirus and vaccines as well.
Of the full group that was interviewed, 60% of respondents said they were very or a little concerned that someone in their family might be infected with the coronavirus, compared with 39% who said they were “not very concerned” or “were not concerned about all over. ” But 89% of Democrats said they were concerned, compared with 32% of Republicans.
Most respondents approved the local, municipal and state response to the coronavirus. Fifty-three percent of respondents approved the Biden government’s response, compared with 39% who said they approved the Trump administration’s efforts.
The highest priorities for the people interviewed were to create jobs and improve the economy, the vaccine launch and the coronavirus response, but the top priorities differed by generation and by political affiliation – with Democrats saying the vaccine launch and treatment of the Coronaviruses were the main problems, compared to most Republicans, saying jobs and the economy and the reopening of businesses were the top priorities.
One point with which the people interviewed generally agreed was that the pandemic adversely affected their mental health.
Sixty-six percent of respondents agreed that the virus had negative effects on their mental health – with 23% saying it had a “very negative impact”, compared with 34% who said not.
The research was not funded by any individual or outside organization, said Magellan. The Colorado voter poll was the first of two parts – the second of which will be launched in the coming weeks.