You're reading: Poll: Almost half of Ukrainians plans to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Almost every second Ukrainian plans to be vaccinated against coronavirus, while 19% of citizens intend to do this in the near future, the same number plan to be vaccinated later, another 10% will be vaccinated only when they have to do it for formal reasons, according to the results of the survey entitled “Attitude of Ukrainian citizens to vaccination against COVID-19,” held by the Razumkov Center from May 21 to May 26.

It is reported that compared to March 2021, the proportion of respondents who answered that they do not intend to get vaccinated against coronavirus decreased from 51.5% to 43%.

At the same time, the share of those who intend to get it in the near future (or have already received such a vaccination) increased from 12% to 19%, from 16% to 19% – the share of those who intend to be vaccinated, but later, 10% (the same as in March) intend to do this only when it is necessary for formal requirements (for example, for a trip abroad).

The older the respondents, the more often they express their lack of desire to get vaccinated (their share increases from 38% among those aged 18 to 29, to 51% among those aged 60 and over).

Among those who do not give up their intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 59% are ready to do it only if it is free (this is more than in March, by 7%), 23% of them are ready to pay for the vaccine, and another 6% are willing to pay to get vaccinated out of turn. The older the respondents, the more often they answer that they are ready to be vaccinated only free of charge (the proportion of such increases from 49% among those who are between 18 and 29 years old, to 77% among those who are 60 and over).

Those respondents who do not intend to be vaccinated are more often motivated by the fact that, in their opinion, the vaccines used in Ukraine are not sufficiently effective and safe, but they are ready to be vaccinated with “some other” vaccine (this answer is given by 31% of those who do not intend to get vaccinated).

Although, compared to March, the proportion of those who do not trust the vaccine has decreased (then it was 45% of those who refused to be vaccinated). Some 30% of them motivate their refusal by the fact that, in their opinion, the risks of vaccination exceed the risks of the disease itself, 15% – by the fact that they have already had coronavirus, 12% have medical contraindications, and 7.5% believe that the likelihood that they will get COVID-19 is very low.

The survey was conducted by the sociological service of the Razumkov Center from May 21 to May 26, 2021, using the method of face-to-face interviews at the place of residence of the respondents.

A total of 2,017 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, based on a sample representing the adult population in terms of basic socio-demographic indicators. The theoretical sampling error (excluding the design effect) does not exceed 2.3% with a probability of 0.95. The research was carried out with the financial support of the representative office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Ukraine.