Reasons for not intending to get vaccinated
The reasons most frequently cited for not intending to get vaccinated were concerns about the safety and the effectiveness of the vaccine (65.5% and 15.7%, respectively). A larger percentage of the February, April and May surveys participants than November participants reported effectiveness concerns (21.6%, 17.1% and 15.0% vs. 9.6%, respectively, p=0.014). Safety concerns were reported at similar percentages in all four periods (66.3%, 62.6%, 67.7% and 62.1% in November 2020, February, April and May 2021, p=0.658). Some respondents specifically cited allergies as a concern relating to the safety of the vaccine in the beginning of vaccination process in the country but this concern diminished as vaccination progressed (fear of allergies among unwilling/uncertain: 0%, 7.6%, 2.4% and 0.7% in November 2020, February, April and May 2021, respectively, p<0.001).
Men more often reported doubts in vaccine effectiveness (19.9% vs. 12.4% reported by women, p=0.007) whereas women reported at higher percentages concerns about safety as compared to men (67.8% vs. 60.8%, p=0.062). The latter finding was modified by the age of the respondents; doubts about safety were reported more often by women aged 40-64 years old as compared men and this finding was independent of the educational level and the presence of a child in the household