The state of Ohio has unveiled its first phase of the state's vaccination program, detailing who will get vaccinated first and exactly how much of the vaccine is expected. Speaking during a special Friday afternoon news briefing, Gov. Mike DeWine laid out the state's first phase to begin vaccinating residents of Ohio for COVID-19. "Our goal is to get this out as quickly as we can, as soon as the federal government gets it to us," the governor said. "The plan for vaccine distribution will continue to be fine-tuned, bur objectives are to save lives; slow the spread of the virus; and to ensure those on the frontline receive the vaccine quickly."The governor unveiled what he called "Phase 1A" of the distribution plan, which did not include many surprises. The governor had always said health care providers and nursing home residents and staff would be among the first to receive the vaccine. They are included in phase one, which will be focused on reaching critical groups. Those in the first phase include: Health care providers and personnel routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patientsResidents and staff at nursing facilitiesResidents and staff at assisted living facilitiesResidents and staff at Ohio's veterans homesPatients and staff at psychiatric hospitalsPeople with intellectual disabilities and those who live with mental illness who live in group homes and their staffEMS respondersHow much of the vaccine will arrive and when will it be received? Many of the details are still being hashed out as the vaccine receives final federal approval. But the governor detailed a preliminary schedule Friday afternoon. As of right now, the state will receive its first shipment from Pfizer around Dec. 15. Of that first shipment, 9,750 will go to the state's hospitals (prepositioned sites), and 88,725 will go to Walgreens and CVS, who will in turn distribute to congregate care settings. On Dec. 22, Ohio anticipate a shipment of 201,000 vaccines from Moderna, the governor said. These will go to 98 hospitals and 108 health departments. Hospitals will vaccinate those dealing with COVID patients. Health departments will vaccinate people like EMS and other essential workers. Also on Dec. 22, the governor said the state expects another shipment from Pfizer. The tentative number of vaccines in this shipment is 123,000. These will go to Walgreen and CVS for vaccination of those in congregate care settings.A few days later, Ohio expects to get another 148,000 vaccines from Pfizer and 89,000 vaccines from Moderna."We're in a very dangerous situation, & I think we can all agree that we can't let our hospitals get to the point where healthcare is threatened," the governor said. "The curfew, mask-wearing, retail inspection have helped, but they haven't helped enough. We'll have to do more. We don't have a choice."DeWine acknowledged that these shipments will not be enough to cover the individuals laid out in the first phase of the vaccination process -- but it is a start. The governor said families in Ohio deserve to be guided by the facts about a COVID-19 vaccine.This is good news for health care workers who've fought through the dark days of this pandemic, but now a new issue is at hand, trust. A recent pew research center survey shows only 51% of adults in the U.S. indicated they would take a coronavirus vaccine. "If employees want to get back to work, it's probably going to be a better idea to take the vaccine so that everyone is immunized and safe at work than it is to really resist that," employment attorney Tod J. Thompson said.Thompson said if an employer expects or requires workers to be vaccinated for continued employment, that's within their rights."Employers can terminate employees at will for any reason or no reason at all," said Thompson.Distrust of a vaccine is even higher among communities of color, which is why the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio is working to educate underserved communities about the vaccine. "We want them to use every tool at their disposal to keep them and their families safe, but we also understand that there is a lot of mistrust and a lot of that has to do with historically how African Americans and other disadvantaged populations have been taken advantage of for medical experiments," Urban League Chief Operating Officer Cinnamon Pell said.
The state of Ohio has unveiled its first phase of the state's vaccination program, detailing who will get vaccinated first and exactly how much of the vaccine is expected.
Speaking during a special Friday afternoon news briefing, Gov. Mike DeWine laid out the state's first phase to begin vaccinating residents of Ohio for COVID-19.
"Our goal is to get this out as quickly as we can, as soon as the federal government gets it to us," the governor said. "The plan for vaccine distribution will continue to be fine-tuned, bur objectives are to save lives; slow the spread of the virus; and to ensure those on the frontline receive the vaccine quickly."
The governor unveiled what he called "Phase 1A" of the distribution plan, which did not include many surprises. The governor had always said health care providers and nursing home residents and staff would be among the first to receive the vaccine.
They are included in phase one, which will be focused on reaching critical groups. Those in the first phase include:
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How much of the vaccine will arrive and when will it be received? Many of the details are still being hashed out as the vaccine receives final federal approval. But the governor detailed a preliminary schedule Friday afternoon.
As of right now, the state will receive its first shipment from Pfizer around Dec. 15. Of that first shipment, 9,750 will go to the state's hospitals (prepositioned sites), and 88,725 will go to Walgreens and CVS, who will in turn distribute to congregate care settings.
On Dec. 22, Ohio anticipate a shipment of 201,000 vaccines from Moderna, the governor said. These will go to 98 hospitals and 108 health departments. Hospitals will vaccinate those dealing with COVID patients. Health departments will vaccinate people like EMS and other essential workers.
Also on Dec. 22, the governor said the state expects another shipment from Pfizer. The tentative number of vaccines in this shipment is 123,000. These will go to Walgreen and CVS for vaccination of those in congregate care settings.
A few days later, Ohio expects to get another 148,000 vaccines from Pfizer and 89,000 vaccines from Moderna.
"We're in a very dangerous situation, & I think we can all agree that we can't let our hospitals get to the point where healthcare is threatened," the governor said. "The curfew, mask-wearing, retail inspection have helped, but they haven't helped enough. We'll have to do more. We don't have a choice."
DeWine acknowledged that these shipments will not be enough to cover the individuals laid out in the first phase of the vaccination process -- but it is a start.
The governor said families in Ohio deserve to be guided by the facts about a COVID-19 vaccine.
This is good news for health care workers who've fought through the dark days of this pandemic, but now a new issue is at hand, trust.
A recent pew research center survey shows only 51% of adults in the U.S. indicated they would take a coronavirus vaccine.
"If employees want to get back to work, it's probably going to be a better idea to take the vaccine so that everyone is immunized and safe at work than it is to really resist that," employment attorney Tod J. Thompson said.
Thompson said if an employer expects or requires workers to be vaccinated for continued employment, that's within their rights.
"Employers can terminate employees at will for any reason or no reason at all," said Thompson.
Distrust of a vaccine is even higher among communities of color, which is why the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio is working to educate underserved communities about the vaccine.
"We want them to use every tool at their disposal to keep them and their families safe, but we also understand that there is a lot of mistrust and a lot of that has to do with historically how African Americans and other disadvantaged populations have been taken advantage of for medical experiments," Urban League Chief Operating Officer Cinnamon Pell said.
by: Autumn Childress, WRIC
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) While many remain skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine, Virginians wondering if their employers can require their workers to get the injection may not be up for debate.
The short answer is yes but with some exceptions.
The looming concern comes following a recent study by National Geographic that shows about 60 percent of Americans are on board with the vaccine. The remaining 40 percent could be forced to get a vaccine, anyway, says one local official.
Cherie Parson, an employment attorney in Chesterfield, says Virginia is an employment-at-will state, meaning terms and conditions are set by the business.
There are some exceptions, however, including disabilities and religious beliefs.
It does not have to be mainstream faiths, in certain cases, those persons beliefs may limit or restrict them from obtaining, so well see them go through the lens and if necessary, making the appropriation, Parson said.
So, the question becomes, how do employers handle workers who are exempt? They can allow them to work remotely, in more isolated spaces, or increase their PPE, Parson suggests.
She adds that with the uncertainty of the vaccine, their is a belief that many employers will stray away from a vaccine mandate. She simply encourages workers to get one, however.
Understanding some of the fear surrounding vaccines, employers may go for more of a recommendation because of possible liabilities and outcomes or side effects that many occur, Parson said.
The CDC says healthcare workers in the United States could be among the first to get access to the vaccine.
by: Autumn Childress, WRIC
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) While many remain skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine, Virginians wondering if their employers can require their workers to get the injection may not be up for debate.
The short answer is yes but with some exceptions.
The looming concern comes following a recent study by National Geographic that shows about 60 percent of Americans are on board with the vaccine. The remaining 40 percent could be forced to get a vaccine, anyway, says one local official.
Cherie Parson, an employment attorney in Chesterfield, says Virginia is an employment-at-will state, meaning terms and conditions are set by the business.
There are some exceptions, however, including disabilities and religious beliefs.
It does not have to be mainstream faiths, in certain cases, those persons beliefs may limit or restrict them from obtaining, so well see them go through the lens and if necessary, making the appropriation, Parson said.
So, the question becomes, how do employers handle workers who are exempt? They can allow them to work remotely, in more isolated spaces, or increase their PPE, Parson suggests.
She adds that with the uncertainty of the vaccine, their is a belief that many employers will stray away from a vaccine mandate. She simply encourages workers to get one, however.
Understanding some of the fear surrounding vaccines, employers may go for more of a recommendation because of possible liabilities and outcomes or side effects that many occur, Parson said.
The CDC says healthcare workers in the United States could be among the first to get access to the vaccine.
A lab technician sorts blood samples for a COVID-19 vaccination study. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand how Americans are continuing to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. For this analysis, we surveyed 12,648 U.S. adults from Nov. 18 to 29, 2020.
Everyone who took part in the survey is a member of Pew Research Centers American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATPs methodology.
See here to read more about the questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology.
As vaccines for the coronavirus enter review for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the share of Americans who say they plan to get vaccinated has increased as the public has grown more confident that the development process will deliver a safe and effective vaccine. Still, the U.S. public is far from uniform in views about a vaccine. A majority says they would be uncomfortable being among the first to take it, and a sizable minority appear certain to pass on getting vaccinated.
Overall, 60% of Americans say they would definitely or probably get a vaccine for the coronavirus, if one were available today, up from 51% who said this in September. About four-in-ten (39%) say they definitely or probably would not get a coronavirus vaccine, though about half of this group or 18% of U.S. adults says its possible they would decide to get vaccinated once people start getting a vaccine and more information becomes available.
Yet, 21% of U.S. adults do not intend to get vaccinated and are pretty certain more information will not change their mind.
Public confidence has grown that the research and development process will yield a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19: 75% have at least a fair amount of confidence in the development process today, compared with 65% who said this in September.
These findings come on the heels of preliminary analysis from two separate clinical trials that have produced vaccines that are over 90% effective; the FDA is expected to issue decisions about the emergency authorization of these vaccines in the coming weeks.
While public intent to get a vaccine and confidence in the vaccine development process are up, theres considerable wariness about being among the first to get a vaccine: 62% of the public says they would be uncomfortable doing this. Just 37% would be comfortable.
The new national survey by Pew Research Center, conducted Nov. 18 to 29 among 12,648 U.S. adults, finds that amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., the publics outlook for the country has darkened: 71% say they think the worst of the outbreak is still to come, up from 59% who said this in June.
And while the public continues to give hospitals and medical centers high marks for how theyve responded to the outbreak, about half of Americans (52%) think hospitals in their area will struggle to handle the number of people seeking treatment for the coronavirus in the coming months; slightly fewer (47%) think their local medical providers will be able to handle the number of patients.
The toll of the pandemic is starkly illustrated by the 54% of Americans who say they know someone personally who has been hospitalized or died due to the coronavirus. Among Black Americans, 71% know someone who has been hospitalized or died because of COVID-19.
The survey sheds light on the complex and interrelated factors that shape intent to get a vaccine for COVID-19, chief among them are:
Partisanship plays a role in many of these beliefs and practices. Overall, theres a 19-point gap between the shares of Democrats and those who lean to the Democratic Party (69%) and Republicans and Republican leaners (50%) who currently say they would get vaccinated for the coronavirus.
These are among the principal findings from the Pew Research Centers latest report on the coronavirus outbreak and Americans views of a COVID-19 vaccine. The survey also finds:
Most are bothered when people around them in public do not wear masks; few are bothered by stores that require face-coverings. About seven-in-ten (72%) say it bothers them a lot or some when people around them in public do not wear masks. Far fewer (28%) say it bothers them at least some when stores require customers to wear a mask for service.
Americans comfortable going to the grocery but not a crowded party. Three-quarters of adults say theyre comfortable going to the grocery store given the current situation with the coronavirus, but views are more mixed when it comes to a restaurant or hair salon, and most would be uncomfortable attending a crowded party. One key factor tied to peoples comfort level is a personal concern with contracting a serious case of COVID-19: Those most concerned are the least comfortable going out.
Republicans remain less likely than Democrats to see outbreak as major threat to public health. Overall, 84% of Democrats and 43% of Republicans say the coronavirus outbreak is a major threat to the U.S. population as a whole. The partisan gap on this measure remains about as wide as at any point during the outbreak and stands in contrast to the large shares of both Republicans (83%) and Democrats (86%) who say the outbreak is a major threat to the U.S. economy.
Confidence in scientists remains slightly higher than before the pandemic. With scientists and their work in the spotlight, 39% of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the publics best interest, an uptick from 35% who said this before the pandemic took hold. Most Americans have at least a fair amount of confidence in scientists. However, ratings of scientists are now more partisan than at any point since Pew Research Center first asked this question in 2016: 55% of Democrats now say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists, compared with just 22% of Republicans who say the same.
Six-in-ten Americans say they would definitely or probably get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available today, up 9 percentage points from 51% in September.
While the uptick in intent to get a vaccine for COVID-19 has been broad based, there remain sizable differences among key demographic groups.
Black Americans continue to stand out as less inclined to get vaccinated than other racial and ethnic groups: 42% would do so, compared with 63% of Hispanic and 61% of White adults. English-speaking Asian Americans are even more likely to say they would definitely or probably get vaccinated (83%).
The coronavirus is thought to be a particular health risk for older adults, who are more likely to have complicating preexisting conditions and weaker immune systems to combat the disease. Three-quarters of adults ages 65 and older say they would definitely or probably get vaccinated, compared with 55% of those under age 30.
Those with higher family incomes, adjusted for cost of living and household size, are more likely than those with middle or lower incomes to say they would get immunized. (See the Appendix for more on these and other groups intentions to get a coronavirus vaccine.)
Peoples views on getting a coronavirus vaccine that is not yet available to the general public remain fluid. Among the roughly four-in-ten Americans who say they would not get the vaccine today, 46% says its possible they would do so once others start getting vaccinated and more information becomes available. Still, 53% of those not currently planning to get vaccinated (21% of all Americans) say they are pretty certain that they wont get a vaccine even with more information.
Regardless of peoples intention to get vaccinated, 62% of Americans report they would be uncomfortable being among the first to do so. Roughly two-thirds of those who say they would probably be vaccinated are uncomfortable being among the first as are nearly all of those who say they would not be vaccinated if a vaccine were available today. The exception comes from the roughly three-in-ten U.S. adults (29%) who say they would definitely be vaccinated; 82% of this group say they would be comfortable being in the first groups to be immunized against coronavirus.
A key question for public health going forward is whether enough Americans will be immunized against the coronavirus to bring collective health benefits known as herd immunity. As of now, it is unclear what threshold will be needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The threshold of immunization is specific to each disease, ranging between roughly 70% and 90% of the population.
About four-in-ten Americans (39%) say they would likely opt out of a coronavirus vaccine.
One factor in peoples intention to be vaccinated is their assessment of their own need for the vaccine. About half of Americans who see themselves as being at little or no risk of getting a case of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization say they would not get vaccinated (52%).
Public confidence in the vaccine development process also plays a role in peoples intention to be vaccinated. The share of Americans with a great deal of confidence in the research and development process for a coronavirus vaccine has gone up in tandem with the share of those who say they would be vaccinated. In the latest Center survey, three-in-ten (30%) have a great deal of confidence in the R&D process, up from 19% in September; three-quarters of Americans now have at least a fair amount of confidence in the process.
But the roughly quarter of Americans with little or no confidence in this process are disinclined to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In this group, 19% say they would get vaccinated, while 80% would not.
Peoples habits and practices related to the seasonal flu vaccine also link with their intention to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Nearly eight-in-ten Americans (78%) who have received a flu shot so far this season, say they would get a coronavirus vaccine, as do most of those who say they typically get a flu shot each year (77%). By contrast, 61% of Americans who report that they rarely or never get the seasonal flu vaccine say they would pass on a coronavirus vaccine if it were available today.
Level of concern over getting a serious case of the coronavirus is tied to a range of other views about the outbreak, including attitudes about others not wearing masks in public and comfort with a variety of activities, such as eating out at a restaurant.
Overall, slightly more than half of Americans say they are very (23%) or somewhat (30%) concerned that they will get the coronavirus and require hospitalization; 47% say they are not too or not at all concerned about this.
Personal concern about getting a serious case of COVID-19 is lower among White adults than those in other racial and ethnic groups. Personal concern is also lower among adults ages 18 to 29 than those in older age groups.
Three-in-ten of those with lower family incomes say they are very concerned about getting a case of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization. People with lower family incomes are more worried about getting a serious case of COVID-19 than those in middle- or upper-income tiers.
Personal concern about getting the coronavirus also is linked with partisanship. A majority (66%) of Democrats say they are very (30%) or somewhat (36%) concerned about getting a serious case of COVID-19. Some 37% of Republicans say they are very or somewhat concerned about getting the coronavirus and requiring hospitalization, while 62% say they are not too or not at all concerned about this.
Wearing a mask or face covering is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is one of the most visible steps people have taken to limit the spread of the disease.
Americans are much more likely to say they are bothered by people not wearing masks in public than by stores and businesses requiring masks for service.
About seven-in-ten Americans (72%) say they are bothered a lot (49%) or some (24%) when they are around people in public places who are not wearing masks. By contrast, just 28% say they are bothered at least some by stores and businesses that require customers to wear a mask. Far more (72%) say such a requirement does not bother them much or at all.
Those who are very (73%) or somewhat (61%) concerned about getting a serious case of COVID-19 are far more likely to say it bothers them a lot when people around them do not wear masks than those who are not too or not at all concerned about getting the coronavirus (29%).
Similarly, adults ages 65 and older (62%) along with Democrats (65%) are more likely to say they are bothered a lot when people around them do not wear masks in public.
Majorities across all major demographic groups say they are not too or not at all bothered by stores and businesses requiring a face-covering. Republicans are relatively more likely to say they are bothered by this than Democrats. Still, just 36% of Republicans are bothered a lot or some by such requirements, compared with 64% who say the requirements dont bother them much or at all.
Large shares of Americans across groups report wearing a mask when out in public. Nearly nine-in-ten (87%) adults say they have worn a mask or face covering all or most of the time when in stores and businesses over the past month, including 91% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans. While a slightly larger majority of Democrats than Republicans reports wearing a mask in stores, the partisan gap is much smaller than it was in June (23 points).
Americans draw clear distinctions between the activities they feel comfortable and uncomfortable doing during the outbreak.
A majority (75%) says they feel comfortable going to the grocery store given the current situation with the coronavirus outbreak, and about two-thirds (65%) say they are comfortable visiting with a close friend or family member inside their home. Just over half (53%) are comfortable going to a hair salon or barbershop.
By contrast, more say they would be uncomfortable eating in a restaurant than say they would be comfortable (55% vs. 44%), and large majorities would be uncomfortable attending an indoor sporting event or concert (80%) or attending a crowded party (84%).
Peoples degree of personal concern over getting a serious case of COVID-19 is strongly linked with their comfort level with a range of activities.
For instance, 53% of those who are very concerned about getting a serious case of the coronavirus say they are comfortable going to the grocery store compared with far larger shares of those who are somewhat concerned (73%) or not too or not at all concerned about getting a serious case of the coronavirus (88%).
Other activities illustrate a similar pattern, including visiting with a close friend or family member in their home and going to a hair salon or barbershop.
Reflecting the mounting toll the coronavirus has had on the country, just over half of Americans (54%) now say they personally know someone who has been hospitalized or has died as a result of having COVID-19. The share who say this has risen in each Pew Research Center survey conducted since April.
Black Americans are especially likely to say they know someone who has been hospitalized or died as a result of having the coronavirus: 71% say this, compared with smaller shares of Hispanic (61%), White (49%) and Asian American (48%) adults.
A large majority of Americans (84%) continue to view the coronavirus outbreak as a major threat to the U.S economy, and about two-thirds (65%) view it as a major threat to the health of the U.S. population as a whole. Public concern about the outbreaks impact on the economy and public health have held steady in surveys conducted since late March.
Democrats remain far more likely than Republicans to say the outbreak is a major threat to public health: 84% of Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party say this, compared with 43% of Republicans and Republican leaners. The partisan gap on this question remains about as wide as it has been at any point during the outbreak.
By contrast, large shares of both Democrats (86%) and Republicans (83%) say the outbreak is a major threat to the U.S. economy, consistent with Center surveys conducted over the past seven months.
When it comes to how key groups and officials have responded to the outbreak, the public continues to rate the job done by hospitals and medical centers very highly. Nearly nine-in-ten (87%) say they have done an excellent or good job responding to the outbreak.
About two-thirds (67%) say public health officials, such as those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have done an excellent or good job responding to the coronavirus outbreak. This rating is slightly higher than last assessed in July. Narrow majorities rate the responses by local (58%) and state elected officials (54%) positively; both groups have seen their ratings decline since the early stages of the outbreak in the U.S.
The public is largely critical of how President Donald Trump has responded. More say Trump has done an only fair or poor job than say he has done an excellent or good job (65% vs. 36%) responding to the outbreak. Ratings of Trump are similar to those from July.
Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to say Trump has done an excellent or good job responding to the coronavirus outbreak (67% vs. 7%). Still, Trumps ratings among Republicans have moved lower over the course of the outbreak: 83% rated his performance positively in late March and 73% said the same in late July.
A larger majority of Democrats (75%) than Republicans (58%) say public health officials have done an excellent or good job responding to coronavirus outbreak. Democrats ratings of health officials have been consistently high in surveys since March, while Republicans ratings have been lower in comparison.
Partisans are aligned in their highly positive ratings of the response by hospitals and medical centers: 89% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans say they have done an excellent or good job responding to the outbreak.
Though most give positive marks to hospitals and medical centers for their handling of the outbreak, 52% of U.S. adults think the hospitals in their area will struggle to handle the number of people seeking treatment for the coronavirus over the next few months; 47% think they will be able to handle the number of patients.
Republicans are less concerned than Democrats that hospitals will struggle to handle coronavirus caseloads, a finding in keeping with wide political differences over the degree to which the coronavirus poses a major threat to public health.
Seven-in-ten of those who are very concerned about getting a case of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization believe hospitals in their area will struggle to handle patient needs over the next few months.
Americans think the effectiveness of treatments for the coronavirus have improved since the early stages of the outbreak: Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) say treatments and drugs for people with COVID-19 have gotten a lot (37%) or a little (41%) better.
Amid a global crisis that puts scientists and their work in a central role advising government leaders on measures to address the spread of the coronavirus and leading efforts to develop new treatments and a vaccine to prevent it, the Center finds public confidence in scientists stable since last measured in April and thus modestly higher than before the outbreak fully took hold.
About four-in-ten (39%) U.S. adults say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the publics best interest, the same as in April and up from 35% in January 2019.
Similarly, four-in-ten U.S. adults (40%) say they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the public interest, compared with 35% who said this before the pandemic and roughly the same as in April 2020. (Half of survey respondents were randomly assigned to rate their confidence in medical scientists and half to rate their confidence in scientists).
Large shares of the U.S. public have at least a fair amount of confidence in both groups to act in the best interests of the public. Very few say they have not too much or no confidence at all in scientists or medical scientists (15% and 14%, respectively).
But these generally positive overall levels of trust in scientists are not universally shared among Americans. Democrats trust in scientists has risen since January 2019 while that of Republicans has dropped modestly over the same time period. As a result, political differences over this assessment have widened.
In the new survey, 55% of Democrats and those who lean to the Democratic Party say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists, roughly the same as in April and up from 43% in January 2019. The share of Republicans with this strongest level of confidence in scientists to act in the public interest has gone down over the same time period, from 27% in January 2019 and April 2020 to 22% in the new survey. Democrats are now 33 percentage points more likely than Republicans to say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists, a partisan gap that is much larger than it was in January of 2019 (16 points). When the Center first measured public confidence in scientists in June 2016, Democrats were 11 points more likely than Republicans to express a great deal of confidence in scientists.
There is now a similarly large partisan divide in confidence in medical scientists to act in the public interest, in contrast with public assessments before the coronavirus outbreak. In the new survey, 54% of Democrats including leaners have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public, about the same as in April (53%) and up from 37% in January 2019. Among Republicans and Republican leaners, 26% have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists, down slightly since April, when 31% said this. The partisan gap in this assessment is now 28 percentage points, up from a statistically nonsignificant 5 percentage points before the coronavirus outbreak spread widely in the U.S.
There are also long-standing differences across racial and ethnic groups when it comes to trust in scientists and medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public. For example, White Americans (43%) are more likely than either Black (33%) or Hispanic (30%) Americans to say they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists. (See Appendix for details.)
Public trust in scientists and medical scientists is roughly on par with trust in the military. About four-in-ten U.S. adults (39%) have a great deal of confidence in the military to act in the public interest, 44% have a fair amount of confidence in the military and just 17% have not too much or no confidence in the military at all. Republicans remain more likely than Democrats to hold a high level of trust in the military (51% vs. 28%).
Public confidence in other groups is far lower. About two-in-ten U.S. adults (21%) have a great deal of confidence in K-12 public school principals, down from 28% in April but on par with January 2019.
The uptick in public confidence for scientists (as well as for medical scientists) since January 2019 is not seen in ratings of other groups and institutions. For instance, the shares with the strongest level of confidence in the military and religious leaders has stayed about the same since January of 2019, and strong confidence in elected officials remains mired in the single digits. The public is less likely to say they have a great deal of confidence in journalists today than they were in December 2018 (9% vs. 15%) and assessments are the same now as they were in April.
A lab technician sorts blood samples for a COVID-19 vaccination study. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand how Americans are continuing to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. For this analysis, we surveyed 12,648 U.S. adults from Nov. 18 to 29, 2020.
Everyone who took part in the survey is a member of Pew Research Centers American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATPs methodology.
See here to read more about the questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology.
As vaccines for the coronavirus enter review for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the share of Americans who say they plan to get vaccinated has increased as the public has grown more confident that the development process will deliver a safe and effective vaccine. Still, the U.S. public is far from uniform in views about a vaccine. A majority says they would be uncomfortable being among the first to take it, and a sizable minority appear certain to pass on getting vaccinated.
Overall, 60% of Americans say they would definitely or probably get a vaccine for the coronavirus, if one were available today, up from 51% who said this in September. About four-in-ten (39%) say they definitely or probably would not get a coronavirus vaccine, though about half of this group or 18% of U.S. adults says its possible they would decide to get vaccinated once people start getting a vaccine and more information becomes available.
Yet, 21% of U.S. adults do not intend to get vaccinated and are pretty certain more information will not change their mind.
Public confidence has grown that the research and development process will yield a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19: 75% have at least a fair amount of confidence in the development process today, compared with 65% who said this in September.
These findings come on the heels of preliminary analysis from two separate clinical trials that have produced vaccines that are over 90% effective; the FDA is expected to issue decisions about the emergency authorization of these vaccines in the coming weeks.
While public intent to get a vaccine and confidence in the vaccine development process are up, theres considerable wariness about being among the first to get a vaccine: 62% of the public says they would be uncomfortable doing this. Just 37% would be comfortable.
The new national survey by Pew Research Center, conducted Nov. 18 to 29 among 12,648 U.S. adults, finds that amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., the publics outlook for the country has darkened: 71% say they think the worst of the outbreak is still to come, up from 59% who said this in June.
And while the public continues to give hospitals and medical centers high marks for how theyve responded to the outbreak, about half of Americans (52%) think hospitals in their area will struggle to handle the number of people seeking treatment for the coronavirus in the coming months; slightly fewer (47%) think their local medical providers will be able to handle the number of patients.
The toll of the pandemic is starkly illustrated by the 54% of Americans who say they know someone personally who has been hospitalized or died due to the coronavirus. Among Black Americans, 71% know someone who has been hospitalized or died because of COVID-19.
The survey sheds light on the complex and interrelated factors that shape intent to get a vaccine for COVID-19, chief among them are:
Partisanship plays a role in many of these beliefs and practices. Overall, theres a 19-point gap between the shares of Democrats and those who lean to the Democratic Party (69%) and Republicans and Republican leaners (50%) who currently say they would get vaccinated for the coronavirus.
These are among the principal findings from the Pew Research Centers latest report on the coronavirus outbreak and Americans views of a COVID-19 vaccine. The survey also finds:
Most are bothered when people around them in public do not wear masks; few are bothered by stores that require face-coverings. About seven-in-ten (72%) say it bothers them a lot or some when people around them in public do not wear masks. Far fewer (28%) say it bothers them at least some when stores require customers to wear a mask for service.
Americans comfortable going to the grocery but not a crowded party. Three-quarters of adults say theyre comfortable going to the grocery store given the current situation with the coronavirus, but views are more mixed when it comes to a restaurant or hair salon, and most would be uncomfortable attending a crowded party. One key factor tied to peoples comfort level is a personal concern with contracting a serious case of COVID-19: Those most concerned are the least comfortable going out.
Republicans remain less likely than Democrats to see outbreak as major threat to public health. Overall, 84% of Democrats and 43% of Republicans say the coronavirus outbreak is a major threat to the U.S. population as a whole. The partisan gap on this measure remains about as wide as at any point during the outbreak and stands in contrast to the large shares of both Republicans (83%) and Democrats (86%) who say the outbreak is a major threat to the U.S. economy.
Confidence in scientists remains slightly higher than before the pandemic. With scientists and their work in the spotlight, 39% of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the publics best interest, an uptick from 35% who said this before the pandemic took hold. Most Americans have at least a fair amount of confidence in scientists. However, ratings of scientists are now more partisan than at any point since Pew Research Center first asked this question in 2016: 55% of Democrats now say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists, compared with just 22% of Republicans who say the same.
Six-in-ten Americans say they would definitely or probably get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available today, up 9 percentage points from 51% in September.
While the uptick in intent to get a vaccine for COVID-19 has been broad based, there remain sizable differences among key demographic groups.
Black Americans continue to stand out as less inclined to get vaccinated than other racial and ethnic groups: 42% would do so, compared with 63% of Hispanic and 61% of White adults. English-speaking Asian Americans are even more likely to say they would definitely or probably get vaccinated (83%).
The coronavirus is thought to be a particular health risk for older adults, who are more likely to have complicating preexisting conditions and weaker immune systems to combat the disease. Three-quarters of adults ages 65 and older say they would definitely or probably get vaccinated, compared with 55% of those under age 30.
Those with higher family incomes, adjusted for cost of living and household size, are more likely than those with middle or lower incomes to say they would get immunized. (See the Appendix for more on these and other groups intentions to get a coronavirus vaccine.)
Peoples views on getting a coronavirus vaccine that is not yet available to the general public remain fluid. Among the roughly four-in-ten Americans who say they would not get the vaccine today, 46% says its possible they would do so once others start getting vaccinated and more information becomes available. Still, 53% of those not currently planning to get vaccinated (21% of all Americans) say they are pretty certain that they wont get a vaccine even with more information.
Regardless of peoples intention to get vaccinated, 62% of Americans report they would be uncomfortable being among the first to do so. Roughly two-thirds of those who say they would probably be vaccinated are uncomfortable being among the first as are nearly all of those who say they would not be vaccinated if a vaccine were available today. The exception comes from the roughly three-in-ten U.S. adults (29%) who say they would definitely be vaccinated; 82% of this group say they would be comfortable being in the first groups to be immunized against coronavirus.
A key question for public health going forward is whether enough Americans will be immunized against the coronavirus to bring collective health benefits known as herd immunity. As of now, it is unclear what threshold will be needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The threshold of immunization is specific to each disease, ranging between roughly 70% and 90% of the population.
About four-in-ten Americans (39%) say they would likely opt out of a coronavirus vaccine.
One factor in peoples intention to be vaccinated is their assessment of their own need for the vaccine. About half of Americans who see themselves as being at little or no risk of getting a case of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization say they would not get vaccinated (52%).
Public confidence in the vaccine development process also plays a role in peoples intention to be vaccinated. The share of Americans with a great deal of confidence in the research and development process for a coronavirus vaccine has gone up in tandem with the share of those who say they would be vaccinated. In the latest Center survey, three-in-ten (30%) have a great deal of confidence in the R&D process, up from 19% in September; three-quarters of Americans now have at least a fair amount of confidence in the process.
But the roughly quarter of Americans with little or no confidence in this process are disinclined to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In this group, 19% say they would get vaccinated, while 80% would not.
Peoples habits and practices related to the seasonal flu vaccine also link with their intention to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Nearly eight-in-ten Americans (78%) who have received a flu shot so far this season, say they would get a coronavirus vaccine, as do most of those who say they typically get a flu shot each year (77%). By contrast, 61% of Americans who report that they rarely or never get the seasonal flu vaccine say they would pass on a coronavirus vaccine if it were available today.
Level of concern over getting a serious case of the coronavirus is tied to a range of other views about the outbreak, including attitudes about others not wearing masks in public and comfort with a variety of activities, such as eating out at a restaurant.
Overall, slightly more than half of Americans say they are very (23%) or somewhat (30%) concerned that they will get the coronavirus and require hospitalization; 47% say they are not too or not at all concerned about this.
Personal concern about getting a serious case of COVID-19 is lower among White adults than those in other racial and ethnic groups. Personal concern is also lower among adults ages 18 to 29 than those in older age groups.
Three-in-ten of those with lower family incomes say they are very concerned about getting a case of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization. People with lower family incomes are more worried about getting a serious case of COVID-19 than those in middle- or upper-income tiers.
Personal concern about getting the coronavirus also is linked with partisanship. A majority (66%) of Democrats say they are very (30%) or somewhat (36%) concerned about getting a serious case of COVID-19. Some 37% of Republicans say they are very or somewhat concerned about getting the coronavirus and requiring hospitalization, while 62% say they are not too or not at all concerned about this.
Wearing a mask or face covering is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is one of the most visible steps people have taken to limit the spread of the disease.
Americans are much more likely to say they are bothered by people not wearing masks in public than by stores and businesses requiring masks for service.
About seven-in-ten Americans (72%) say they are bothered a lot (49%) or some (24%) when they are around people in public places who are not wearing masks. By contrast, just 28% say they are bothered at least some by stores and businesses that require customers to wear a mask. Far more (72%) say such a requirement does not bother them much or at all.
Those who are very (73%) or somewhat (61%) concerned about getting a serious case of COVID-19 are far more likely to say it bothers them a lot when people around them do not wear masks than those who are not too or not at all concerned about getting the coronavirus (29%).
Similarly, adults ages 65 and older (62%) along with Democrats (65%) are more likely to say they are bothered a lot when people around them do not wear masks in public.
Majorities across all major demographic groups say they are not too or not at all bothered by stores and businesses requiring a face-covering. Republicans are relatively more likely to say they are bothered by this than Democrats. Still, just 36% of Republicans are bothered a lot or some by such requirements, compared with 64% who say the requirements dont bother them much or at all.
Large shares of Americans across groups report wearing a mask when out in public. Nearly nine-in-ten (87%) adults say they have worn a mask or face covering all or most of the time when in stores and businesses over the past month, including 91% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans. While a slightly larger majority of Democrats than Republicans reports wearing a mask in stores, the partisan gap is much smaller than it was in June (23 points).
Americans draw clear distinctions between the activities they feel comfortable and uncomfortable doing during the outbreak.
A majority (75%) says they feel comfortable going to the grocery store given the current situation with the coronavirus outbreak, and about two-thirds (65%) say they are comfortable visiting with a close friend or family member inside their home. Just over half (53%) are comfortable going to a hair salon or barbershop.
By contrast, more say they would be uncomfortable eating in a restaurant than say they would be comfortable (55% vs. 44%), and large majorities would be uncomfortable attending an indoor sporting event or concert (80%) or attending a crowded party (84%).
Peoples degree of personal concern over getting a serious case of COVID-19 is strongly linked with their comfort level with a range of activities.
For instance, 53% of those who are very concerned about getting a serious case of the coronavirus say they are comfortable going to the grocery store compared with far larger shares of those who are somewhat concerned (73%) or not too or not at all concerned about getting a serious case of the coronavirus (88%).
Other activities illustrate a similar pattern, including visiting with a close friend or family member in their home and going to a hair salon or barbershop.
Reflecting the mounting toll the coronavirus has had on the country, just over half of Americans (54%) now say they personally know someone who has been hospitalized or has died as a result of having COVID-19. The share who say this has risen in each Pew Research Center survey conducted since April.
Black Americans are especially likely to say they know someone who has been hospitalized or died as a result of having the coronavirus: 71% say this, compared with smaller shares of Hispanic (61%), White (49%) and Asian American (48%) adults.
A large majority of Americans (84%) continue to view the coronavirus outbreak as a major threat to the U.S economy, and about two-thirds (65%) view it as a major threat to the health of the U.S. population as a whole. Public concern about the outbreaks impact on the economy and public health have held steady in surveys conducted since late March.
Democrats remain far more likely than Republicans to say the outbreak is a major threat to public health: 84% of Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party say this, compared with 43% of Republicans and Republican leaners. The partisan gap on this question remains about as wide as it has been at any point during the outbreak.
By contrast, large shares of both Democrats (86%) and Republicans (83%) say the outbreak is a major threat to the U.S. economy, consistent with Center surveys conducted over the past seven months.
When it comes to how key groups and officials have responded to the outbreak, the public continues to rate the job done by hospitals and medical centers very highly. Nearly nine-in-ten (87%) say they have done an excellent or good job responding to the outbreak.
About two-thirds (67%) say public health officials, such as those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have done an excellent or good job responding to the coronavirus outbreak. This rating is slightly higher than last assessed in July. Narrow majorities rate the responses by local (58%) and state elected officials (54%) positively; both groups have seen their ratings decline since the early stages of the outbreak in the U.S.
The public is largely critical of how President Donald Trump has responded. More say Trump has done an only fair or poor job than say he has done an excellent or good job (65% vs. 36%) responding to the outbreak. Ratings of Trump are similar to those from July.
Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to say Trump has done an excellent or good job responding to the coronavirus outbreak (67% vs. 7%). Still, Trumps ratings among Republicans have moved lower over the course of the outbreak: 83% rated his performance positively in late March and 73% said the same in late July.
A larger majority of Democrats (75%) than Republicans (58%) say public health officials have done an excellent or good job responding to coronavirus outbreak. Democrats ratings of health officials have been consistently high in surveys since March, while Republicans ratings have been lower in comparison.
Partisans are aligned in their highly positive ratings of the response by hospitals and medical centers: 89% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans say they have done an excellent or good job responding to the outbreak.
Though most give positive marks to hospitals and medical centers for their handling of the outbreak, 52% of U.S. adults think the hospitals in their area will struggle to handle the number of people seeking treatment for the coronavirus over the next few months; 47% think they will be able to handle the number of patients.
Republicans are less concerned than Democrats that hospitals will struggle to handle coronavirus caseloads, a finding in keeping with wide political differences over the degree to which the coronavirus poses a major threat to public health.
Seven-in-ten of those who are very concerned about getting a case of COVID-19 that would require hospitalization believe hospitals in their area will struggle to handle patient needs over the next few months.
Americans think the effectiveness of treatments for the coronavirus have improved since the early stages of the outbreak: Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) say treatments and drugs for people with COVID-19 have gotten a lot (37%) or a little (41%) better.
Amid a global crisis that puts scientists and their work in a central role advising government leaders on measures to address the spread of the coronavirus and leading efforts to develop new treatments and a vaccine to prevent it, the Center finds public confidence in scientists stable since last measured in April and thus modestly higher than before the outbreak fully took hold.
About four-in-ten (39%) U.S. adults say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the publics best interest, the same as in April and up from 35% in January 2019.
Similarly, four-in-ten U.S. adults (40%) say they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the public interest, compared with 35% who said this before the pandemic and roughly the same as in April 2020. (Half of survey respondents were randomly assigned to rate their confidence in medical scientists and half to rate their confidence in scientists).
Large shares of the U.S. public have at least a fair amount of confidence in both groups to act in the best interests of the public. Very few say they have not too much or no confidence at all in scientists or medical scientists (15% and 14%, respectively).
But these generally positive overall levels of trust in scientists are not universally shared among Americans. Democrats trust in scientists has risen since January 2019 while that of Republicans has dropped modestly over the same time period. As a result, political differences over this assessment have widened.
In the new survey, 55% of Democrats and those who lean to the Democratic Party say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists, roughly the same as in April and up from 43% in January 2019. The share of Republicans with this strongest level of confidence in scientists to act in the public interest has gone down over the same time period, from 27% in January 2019 and April 2020 to 22% in the new survey. Democrats are now 33 percentage points more likely than Republicans to say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists, a partisan gap that is much larger than it was in January of 2019 (16 points). When the Center first measured public confidence in scientists in June 2016, Democrats were 11 points more likely than Republicans to express a great deal of confidence in scientists.
There is now a similarly large partisan divide in confidence in medical scientists to act in the public interest, in contrast with public assessments before the coronavirus outbreak. In the new survey, 54% of Democrats including leaners have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public, about the same as in April (53%) and up from 37% in January 2019. Among Republicans and Republican leaners, 26% have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists, down slightly since April, when 31% said this. The partisan gap in this assessment is now 28 percentage points, up from a statistically nonsignificant 5 percentage points before the coronavirus outbreak spread widely in the U.S.
There are also long-standing differences across racial and ethnic groups when it comes to trust in scientists and medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public. For example, White Americans (43%) are more likely than either Black (33%) or Hispanic (30%) Americans to say they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists. (See Appendix for details.)
Public trust in scientists and medical scientists is roughly on par with trust in the military. About four-in-ten U.S. adults (39%) have a great deal of confidence in the military to act in the public interest, 44% have a fair amount of confidence in the military and just 17% have not too much or no confidence in the military at all. Republicans remain more likely than Democrats to hold a high level of trust in the military (51% vs. 28%).
Public confidence in other groups is far lower. About two-in-ten U.S. adults (21%) have a great deal of confidence in K-12 public school principals, down from 28% in April but on par with January 2019.
The uptick in public confidence for scientists (as well as for medical scientists) since January 2019 is not seen in ratings of other groups and institutions. For instance, the shares with the strongest level of confidence in the military and religious leaders has stayed about the same since January of 2019, and strong confidence in elected officials remains mired in the single digits. The public is less likely to say they have a great deal of confidence in journalists today than they were in December 2018 (9% vs. 15%) and assessments are the same now as they were in April.
While doses of the vaccine are expected to be in the state this month, questions and concerns remain regarding distribution.
PORTLAND, Ore. Dr. Rhett Cummings is a critical care doctor at the Oregon Clinic and Providence. He is excited about the COVID-19 vaccine coming to Oregon.
"Especially as front-line workers in the hospital, this is the first phase with a long ways to go over the next many months," said Dr. Cummings.
Two vaccines are coming on the market: one from Pfizer and the other from Moderna. The Pfizer vaccine is already being sent to states before the expected emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
"We're assuming, and the state is assuming with receiving this number of vaccines that the FDA is going to approve on the 17th of December," said Dr. Cummings.
"What's yet to be determined and what we haven't heard is where we are going to be getting the shots," Dr. Cummings explained.
He is still not sure which of the two vaccines they'll get at his clinic, but says with either it's important for people to get two doses.
"Percentages that you hear about on the news of 90% effective, for instance, that's very dependent on receiving that second booster dose for full immunization," explained Dr. Cummings.
After essential workers and high risk people get vaccinated, Oregon will move on to giving shots to populations disproportionately affected by the virus. That includes people from racial and ethnic minoritized groups.
Veronica Leonard with organization Latino Network says a specific callout needs to go the Latino population, "because we know that our community, of all the communities of color, is the one that has been hit the hardest." Latinos make up 13% of the state population and 27% of positive cases.
In Multnomah County, Black, Indigenous and other people of color represent 40% of COVID-19 cases, despite comprising only 30% of residents.
Leonard urges health officials to have culturally-specific messages when rolling out the vaccine in these communities.
"We really need to have experts from each community informing those messages so that we're making sure that we're addressing the specific beliefs and fears that each community may have," said Leonard. "I think this will lead to the greatest uptake of the vaccines."
While Dr. Cummings calls the vaccine a game-changer, he said it doesn't mean we should stop wearing masks and taking precautions.
While doses of the vaccine are expected to be in the state this month, questions and concerns remain regarding distribution.
PORTLAND, Ore. Dr. Rhett Cummings is a critical care doctor at the Oregon Clinic and Providence. He is excited about the COVID-19 vaccine coming to Oregon.
"Especially as front-line workers in the hospital, this is the first phase with a long ways to go over the next many months," said Dr. Cummings.
Two vaccines are coming on the market: one from Pfizer and the other from Moderna. The Pfizer vaccine is already being sent to states before the expected emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
"We're assuming, and the state is assuming with receiving this number of vaccines that the FDA is going to approve on the 17th of December," said Dr. Cummings.
"What's yet to be determined and what we haven't heard is where we are going to be getting the shots," Dr. Cummings explained.
He is still not sure which of the two vaccines they'll get at his clinic, but says with either it's important for people to get two doses.
"Percentages that you hear about on the news of 90% effective, for instance, that's very dependent on receiving that second booster dose for full immunization," explained Dr. Cummings.
After essential workers and high risk people get vaccinated, Oregon will move on to giving shots to populations disproportionately affected by the virus. That includes people from racial and ethnic minoritized groups.
Veronica Leonard with organization Latino Network says a specific callout needs to go the Latino population, "because we know that our community, of all the communities of color, is the one that has been hit the hardest." Latinos make up 13% of the state population and 27% of positive cases.
In Multnomah County, Black, Indigenous and other people of color represent 40% of COVID-19 cases, despite comprising only 30% of residents.
Leonard urges health officials to have culturally-specific messages when rolling out the vaccine in these communities.
"We really need to have experts from each community informing those messages so that we're making sure that we're addressing the specific beliefs and fears that each community may have," said Leonard. "I think this will lead to the greatest uptake of the vaccines."
While Dr. Cummings calls the vaccine a game-changer, he said it doesn't mean we should stop wearing masks and taking precautions.
by: Tom Negovan and Nexstar Media Wire
NEW YORK (NewsNation Now) COVID-19 vaccines are on the way and so are the vaccine scams.
Security experts are warning Americans to be on their guard and avoid offers that sound too good to be true. It turns out there are a lot of them.
Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security have been working coronavirus-related cons since April, when they rolled out Operation Stolen Promise. Since then, theyve analyzed more than 70,000 websites suspected of being involved in COVID-19-related fraud.
Theyre now working with Pfizer, Moderna and dozens of other companies on the safe distribution of COVID-19 vaccines while preparing for the new schemes they know are on the way.
One surfaced this week: a robocall which proclaims, You have the chance to avoid anticipated long lines and get a single dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine sent to your home for a one-time payment of $79.99.
Thats a call to hang up on.
And while many people say they cant believe anyone would respond to an offer like that, countless people do. For those who suspend disbelief, unable to comprehend that anyone would stoop low enough to steal from the unsuspecting during a deadly pandemic, the message from cybersecurity experts is: believe it.
Tis the season of scams, Mike Stamas of GreyCastle Security told NewsNation affiliate WROC. Whatever criminals can do to hit that nerve that forces you to do something, theyll do it.
Most of us may only be obliquely aware of the problem, but the agencies that monitor this type of activity say they traditionally see a big uptick over the holidays. This year, with coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline, its like a double Christmas for cyberthieves.
The Food and Drug Administration has released a video about COVID-19 fraud and the Federal Trade Commission comes out with regular advisories.
The agency says complaints about scams on social media have more than tripled this year over last.
It has been sending warning letters to companies making unproven claims about coronavirus treatments since March.
The advice from the Better Business Bureau is simple: If you get any kind of offer, do your research, check with your doctor and ignore any claim that demands you take immediate action.
The federal government says with a real treatment on the horizon, frauds are spreading almost as quickly as the virus itself, but theyre watching.
Were working very closely with the pharmaceutical companies to ensure and protect that supply chain and to assure the American public is safe, said Steve Francis, Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, an Arlington, VA-based agency overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Since the launch of Operation Stolen Promise, agents have seized millions of fake or unapproved pieces of personal protective equipment and antiviral pharmaceuticals. At least 185 people have been arrested.
As busy as theyve been, the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines promises to take their work to an entirely new level.
After they present their information, they get grilled from everyone who is sitting in that room. Theyre trying to pry and try and see if theres anything theyre hiding, anything that has been missed. Any gaps in the original design of studies or their preliminary work on the product, Saag said.
The first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine to Minnesota could be enough for only about 24,000 people, but more will be on the way.
Hundreds of thousands of Minnesota health care workers and long-term care residents have been designated as being the highest priority for getting the shot, leaving state officials with tough choices to make on who will be first in line.
Minnesota health officials declined to say Thursday how much the state would receive of the 6.4 million doses that vaccine maker Pfizer is shipping to the United States in the first round.
But several states, including New York and California, have disclosed their allotments, giving clues to the distribution formula tied to each states adult population.
Wisconsin health officials said this week they will be getting nearly 50,000 doses. Its adult population is roughly 5% higher than the 4.3 million adults in Minnesota.
Based on those numbers, as well as other state allocations, Minnesota is on track to receive about 47,000 doses. Like many of the COVID-19 vaccines being developed, each person needs two doses taken a few weeks apart to receive full protection.
The shipments are scheduled to start the week of Dec. 14, and more doses are expected to be delivered in subsequent weeks. Federal officials have said they hope to get 40 million doses from Pfizer and another drugmaker, Moderna, into the hands of the states, territories and six large cities by the end of the year.
The Pfizer vaccine is expected to receive an emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 11, a step that would allow it to bypass normal approval protocols.
While the initial shipments will be small compared with the need, they will mark a significant turning point in the battle against the stealthy coronavirus.
Weve been talking about the light at the end of the tunnel, said state infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann. It is there and it is getting closer.
Since late October, Minnesota has seen an unprecedented number of new infections, hospitalizations and deaths.
The Health Department on Thursday reported 92 new COVID-19 deaths the second-highest one-day total of the pandemic, which has taken 3,784 Minnesota lives.
Hospitals had 376 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units, a slight decline from the previous day. Hospitals have freed up some space by delaying less urgent surgeries, but coronavirus patients accounted for 34% of all ICU beds.
Another 6,166 lab-confirmed infections were reported, bringing the total to 333,626 known cases, including 24,217 health care workers.
Health care workers are getting infected, often in nonmedical settings, but they are also required to quarantine if they have a high-risk exposure to someone with COVID-19.
Thats one reason a federal advisory panel this week recommended that health care workers be among the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Minnesota alone has 355,000 health care practitioners and support professionals, including 25,000 licensed physicians and 160,000 people licensed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
Some have more direct contact with COVID-19 patients than others but any patient presents a risk because of asymptomatic spread of the virus.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent advisory group that makes recommendations to the federal government on vaccine distribution, addressed how limited supplies of the vaccine could be handled.
Jurisdictions might consider first offering vaccine to health care personnel whose duties require proximity [within 6 feet] to other persons, the group said in a report released Thursday.
Still, that leaves a fairly large group considering that health care workers include those in hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, home health care, pharmacies, emergency medical services and public health.
I would make the plea that firefighters do deserve to be in that first phase, said Chris Parsons, president of Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters, a group that represents 1,800 firefighters and paramedics.
Many firefighters serve dual roles. Trained as paramedics and emergency medical technicians, they are often the first to arrive at a medical emergency.
We are absolutely the front of the front line, he said. We are the tip of the tip of the spear.
A St. Paul fire captain, Parsons recently went on a call to attend to a heart attack, only to find a house full of COVID-19-infected family members.
We are usually operating in tight quarters so our exposure is very high, he said. As cases in the state have gone up, we have seen a spike in cases among our members.
Among others being considered for the first doses are long-term care residents.
We were thrilled to see the recommendations, said Patti Cullen, CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota. Our best guess is the first limited batch of vaccines would be available toward the end of December but there will not be enough to go around to both [nursing homes] and assisted living.
Minnesota has about 78,000 long-term care residents. Priority could be given to the states 22,000 in nursing homes because they tend to be sicker and most at risk for COVID-19 complications, ACIP said.
With the rapid pace of COVID-19 vaccine development, states are grappling with how to best distribute the shots.
I give the states A for effort. They are really trying but they are all over the map though in terms of preparedness, said Jennifer Kates, senior vice president and director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. The biggest challenge for many will be a lack of funding.
Many states have been underfunding public health for years, she said. Now they are having to ramp up to an unprecedented level for a COVID vaccine.
The Health Department said it is not ready to release many details about the vaccine rollout, or supply, as it is still working with external agencies, including local public health agencies that will play a large role.
We plan to provide as much of that detail and context as we can in a briefing early next week, agency spokesman Doug Schultz said.
Staff writer Chris Serres contributed to this report.
