DENVER – As Colorado continues to launch COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 6,000 people die in the state from the virus, a recent survey found that about 1 in 3 Republicans in Colorado plan to get vaccinated when the doses are available. .
The survey, conducted by Louisville-based Magellan Strategies, involved an online poll of 769 registered Colorado voters surveyed between February 9-17, with a margin of error of ± 3.53%.
However, the question of whether or not a person will receive the vaccine when it is available was asked of 420 respondents who had not yet been vaccinated, and the results have a margin of error of ± 4.78%.
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The poll was weighted by the demographics of registered voters in Colorado, the company said.
In total, 55% of people asked if they intended to get vaccinated said they would, 34% said no and 9% of respondents said they were unsure.
But the party’s split was notable: Eighty-eight percent of Democrats said they intended to get vaccinated, compared to 57 percent of unaffiliated voters and only 29 percent of Republicans surveyed.
Rural voters (23% yes) and Trump voters (24% yes) said they are much less likely to get vaccinated compared to suburban women (61% yes) and four-year college voters (68%). Yes).
The poll asked people – identified only by location, gender, generation and voter registration – why they would not be vaccinated or reluctant to do so.
These responses have shown the perceptions of some people, not only in Colorado, but also across the country, that local and state officials have tried to combat, as misinformation spreads about the alleged dangers of vaccines and the virus – all used they have currently received approval for an emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.
“Scientists and real doctors are concerned that vaccines have not been properly tested for safety and efficacy. Too many side effects and deaths have been reported, ”said a silent generation woman who is a rural Republican.
“It simply came to our notice then. Change the DNA. IT IS NOT NECESSARY. The current recovery rate from COVID is 98% without the vaccine, ”said a male Baby Boomer who is an urban Republican.
However, concerns and hesitation were not limited to Republicans.
“I made an appointment to get my vaccine, but I’m not sure if it’s safe for me to do it,” said a Democratic Baby Boomer woman who lives in a small town.
“I’m healthy, I’d better give it to people who need it,” said an unaffiliated Millennial suburban man.
But the party’s line divisions observed in the question of whether a person would be vaccinated have expanded to other questions about coronavirus and vaccines.
Of the entire group surveyed, 60% of respondents said they were either very concerned or somewhat worried that someone in their family would be infected with the coronavirus, compared with 39% who said that “they are not too concerned. “Or” they’re not all concerned. “But 89 percent of Democrats said they were worried, compared to 32 percent of Republicans.
Most respondents approved the local, county and state response to coronavirus. Fifty-three percent of respondents approved of the Biden administration’s response, compared to 39% who said they approved of the Trump administration’s efforts.
Top priorities for respondents were job creation and improving the economy, vaccine launch and coronavirus response, but top priorities differed by generation and political affiliation – Democrats say vaccine launch and coronavirus approach are the main ones. problems, compared to most Republicans, saying jobs and the economy and reopening businesses are top priorities.
One of the points that the respondents generally agreed on was that the pandemic had a negative effect on their mental health.
Sixty-six percent of respondents agreed that the virus had negative effects on mental health – 23% said it had a “very negative impact”, compared to 34% who said no.
The survey was not funded by outside individuals or organizations, Magellan said. The poll of Colorado voters was the first of two parts – the second of which will be launched in the coming weeks.