Social perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccinations: survey findings

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic can certainly be considered a turning point in history. In 2021 vaccines have finally arrived. They were met with different attitudes from people, from a willingness to be vaccinated as soon as possible to hostility. This study aimed to conduct a survey assessing public beliefs and attitudes towards vaccinations and COVID-19. Material and methods: A survey was conducted online from January 13 to February 14, 2022. It was completed by 7025 adult participants. After screening for potential fraudulent responses, 7018 valid responses were included in the analysis. Results: Among the concerns about vaccination, the most common reason for hesitation was the lack of information on long-term side effects, cited by 41.4% of the vaccinated. Doubts about vaccine effectiveness were reported by 15.9% of people, and fear of severe side effects was mentioned by 32.2%. For the unvaccinated, the most common affirmative response was the desire for a COVID passport, which 43.7% of individuals supported. Concerns about avoiding severe illness led 38.7% to hesitate, while 25.1% felt social pressure. Among the statements about vaccinations and COVID-19, unvaccinated individuals most commonly believe in the falsification of pandemic statistics, think that the time from vaccine development to deployment was too short, and fear that vaccines might cause serious side effects. In contrast, vaccinated individuals are more likely to believe in the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of vaccines. Conclusions: The present findings indicate the need for increased focus on vaccine education. It is crucial to inform the public about where to access credible and verified information. Additionally, it is important to approach rumors and theories circulating on social media with skepticism. Developing and distributing educational materials, such as pamphlets and online resources, can help ensure the public has access to reliable health information.