Polling shows more Americans planning to get COVID vaccines, but hesitancy remains a concern

ORLANDO, Fla. — Nearly 70% of Americans plan to get COVID-19 vaccines or have already done so, according to a new poll by the Associated Press.

Doctor’s say that number needs to be higher to reach herd immunity.

“Probably need more like 75-80%,” Dr. Frederick Southwick of UF Health says.

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According to the poll, roughly 67% of Americans say they’ll get the vaccine. That’s grown from 50% in the initial polling.

Dr. Steven Smith of AdventHealth expects that upward trend to continue.

“The gaps are closing.” Dr. Smith says.

Dr. Smith addressed this trend during a town hall event hosted by Congressman Darren Soto Wednesday.

AdventHealth conducted its own survey of more than 100,000 of its patients across Central Florida about whether or not they would get the shot

“We started at about 46% vaccine hesitancy with that group. We’re up to about 70% in the last week of January.

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The Associated Press poll found resistance ran higher among younger people, people without college degrees, and minorities.

AdventHealth says it’s with minorities that they’ve seen some significant progress.

“Within black and African American populations, we’ve gone from 25% to almost 60% acceptance of the vaccine,” Dr. Smith says.

He adds the Hispanic and Latino population wanting the vaccine jumped from 40% to 60%.

“We are really seeing that this larger conversation to develop trust is growing.”

Dr. Southwick says they’ll continue to hone in on this hesitancy.

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“I think we need to really attack the disinformation, and also some of the fears.”

Many of the respondents who were hesitant about getting the vaccine expressed doubts about safety and effectiveness.

Doctors say as these people watch some of their friends and family respond well to the vaccine, they will be more comfortable taking it.

Cox Media Group