Reason for not taking COVID-19 vaccine in the UK 2020 by age

In December 2020, a survey carried out in the UK found that 61 percent of respondents who indicated they did not want to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 are unwilling to do so because they are worried about unknown side effects of the vaccine. Furthermore, 15 percent of those skeptical of receiving the vaccine don't believe it will be effective.

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Share of selected reasons why people indicated they do not want to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, as of December 2020

Characteristic	Share of responses
I think we know too little of the vaccine's side effects	61%
I don't know enough about the vaccine or the vaccination process	35%
I don't think I am a priority group	28%
I don't think the vaccine is safe for me to take	25%
I don't trust the organizations that developed the vaccines	19%
I don't think the vaccine will be effective	15%
I don't think I am at risk of COVID-19	13%
I think COVID-19 has been exaggerated by governments or the media, or is a hoax	12%
I think the vaccination process is costing the country too much money	6%
I don't trust the NHS	4%

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Release date

December 2020

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

December 16 to 17, 2020

Number of respondents

716*

Age group

18 years and older

Special properties

Respondents who do not want a COVID-19 vaccine

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

*Weighted base.
Question was worded in the source as: "You have indicated that you do not want to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Why do you not want to take a COVID-19 vaccine?" Multiple responses possible

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