What You Should Know:
– 65% of patients say they will wait to receive the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine even if it becomes available before the end, according to a new Medisafe survey.
– Consumers cited greater trust in Dr. Anthony Fauci and established protocols as a leading factor in determining whether to take the vaccine, and listed President Trump as the leading detractor in driving COVID-19 vaccine skepticism and hesitancy in its effectiveness.
Real-world results show users prefer to wait on COVID-19 vaccine dose, refer to a physician for guidance on timing, according to a new survey from Medisafe, a digital therapeutics platform that supports users with advanced medication management. The survey reveals sixty-five percent of patients say they will wait to receive the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine even if it becomes available before the end of 2020. The majority of survey participants cited uncertainty in its overall effectiveness and potential side-effects from the vaccine as top reasons for the delay.
Report Background
The survey, conducted from Sept. 27 – Oct. 2, 2020, included more than 16,000 U.S. patients who use Medisafe’s digital therapeutics platform to regularly manage their medication therapy. This new survey is the latest in a series of reports conducted by Medisafe on users’ viewpoints and insights in adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, measuring elements such as changes in medication habits, virtual doctor visits, increased use of digital health tools, and trust in pharmaceutical companies. The company is a leading digital therapeutic platform with more than seven million users who utilize the system to help manage their medication therapy, stay engaged on their medication therapy, and engage with other users to create a virtual support system in living healthier lives while managing acute and chronic conditions.
COVID-19 Vaccine & Patients
Sixty percent of respondents say they don’t expect a COVID-19 vaccine to be available before the end of 2020. While 21% said they would receive the vaccine as soon as it becomes available, 11% of respondents said they would never take the vaccine. Forty-nine percent believe the COVID-19 vaccine is being rushed to market, side-stepping normal regulations and testing, creating additional concern and hesitancy to become vaccinated. Many respondents also cited confusion over the handling of the pandemic in the U.S. as a primary reason to resist taking the vaccine.
Political Uncertainty Drives Mistrust of COVID-19 Vaccine
In open-ended responses, users cited greater trust in Dr. Anthony Fauci and established protocols as a leading factor in determining whether to take the vaccine and listed President Trump as the leading detractor in driving skepticism and hesitancy in its effectiveness. Survey participants prefer to obtain recommendations from their own physicians to determine if the vaccine is suitable for them and their families, and when it’s appropriate to take the vaccine.
“Despite the apolitical nature of the survey, the open-ended responses and results clearly show that users feel many issues surrounding the vaccine have been politicized, created additional challenges in driving utilization of the vaccine once it becomes available,” said Medisafe Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Butler. “This survey provides greater visibility into users’ concerns with taking the vaccine and its potential interaction with chronic conditions and medication therapy, creating opportunities to build awareness and support throughout their journey. Medisafe aims to help manufacturers in creating personalized guidance in formats that are beneficial and accessible to patients, whenever any new challenges arise.”
