DENVER – While Colorado continues to deploy COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 6,000 people have died in the state due to the virus, a recently released survey found that approximately 1 in 3 Colorado Republicans plan to get vaccinated when they get dose arrangement.
The survey, conducted by Louisville-based Magellan Strategies, included an online poll of 769 registered voters in Colorado surveyed Feb. 9-17, with a margin of error of ± 3.53%.
But the question of whether or not a person would get the vaccine when it was available was posed to 420 of the respondents who had not yet been vaccinated and the results lead to a margin of error of ± 4.78%.
MONTH: When and where can the COVID-19 vaccine be obtained? Here are answers to your vaccine-related questions
The poll was weighted by the demographics of registered voters in Colorado, the firm said.
In all, 55% of people asked if they planned to get vaccinated and said they would, 34% said no and 9% of respondents said they were unsure.
But the split in the party was remarkable: Eighty-eight percent of Democrats said they planned to get vaccinated, compared to 57 percent of unaffiliated voters and only 29 percent of Republicans who were polled.
Rural voters (23% yes) and Trump voters (24% yes) said they were much less likely to get vaccinated compared to suburban women (61% yes) and four-year college voters (68%). Yes).
The survey also asked people, identified only by their location, gender, generation and voter registration, why they would not be vaccinated or hesitant to do so.
These responses showed the perceptions of some people, not just in Colorado, but throughout the state, that local and state officials have tried to combat as misinformation spreads about the alleged dangers of vaccines and the virus. , all of which are currently in use have received approval and an emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Scientists and real doctors are concerned that vaccines have not been properly tested for their safety and effectiveness. Too many side effects and deaths have been reported,” said a woman of the silent generation who is a rural Republican.
“Not tested. It alters DNA. NOT NECESSARY. The current COVID recovery rate is 98% without a vaccine, ”said a male Baby Boomer who is an urban Republican.
However, worries and hesitation were not limited to Republicans.
“I’ve made an appointment to get the vaccine, but I’m not sure if it’s safe for me to do it,” said a Democratic Baby Boomer living in a small town.
“I’m healthy, probably better to give it to people who need it,” said a non-affiliated Millennial suburban man.
But the party line seen in the question of whether a person would be vaccinated extended to other issues related to coronavirus and vaccines.
Of the full group surveyed, 60% of respondents said they were very or slightly worried that someone in their family was infected with the coronavirus, compared with 39% who said “they weren’t too worried” or “not too worried. he was worried about everything. ”But 89% of Democrats said they were worried, compared to 32% of Republicans.
Most respondents approved the local, county, and state response to the coronavirus. Fifty-three percent of respondents approved the Biden administration’s response, compared to 39% who said it approved the Trump administration’s efforts.
The highest priorities for the respondents were job creation and improving the economy, vaccine deployment, and coronavirus response, but the main priorities were different by generation and political affiliation; compared to most Republicans, who say employment and the economy and the reopening of businesses were top priorities.
One of the points where respondents generally agreed was that the pandemic has negatively affected their mental health.
Sixty-six percent of respondents agreed that the virus had had negative effects on their mental health, with 23% saying it had a “very negative impact,” compared to 34% who said it no.
Magellan said the survey was not funded by any individual or outside organization. The poll on Colorado voters ’opinions was the first of two parts, the second of which will be published in the coming weeks.