The study showed how many people in Lithuania would agree to get vaccinated against the coronavirus

On Monday March 8, the international market research and consumer opinion company NielsenIQ presented a study “Intention of the Lithuanian population to vaccinate: a demographic portrait” at a remote press conference.

During the press conference, the latest representative data on the intentions of the population of the Baltic States to get vaccinated and demographic portraits of separate groups in Lithuanian society will be presented.

The study was conducted in 3 Baltic countries: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In each country, 1,600 people between the ages of 16 and 64 were interviewed.

The highest level of anxiety is in Latvia

According to the latest survey data, the highest level of anxiety about the COVID-19 situation is in Latvia, around 91 percent. In Lithuania at that time the figure is 88% and in Estonia 86%.

“The highest level of panic was during the first quarantine, that is, in April, and 24 percent of people who were concerned about the virus. Anxiety levels have plummeted since the quarantine was launched.

Interestingly, with the advent of the second quarantine, people didn’t panic like that. In December, 12% were very concerned about the situation, ”said Asta Ivanauskienė, director of consumer research projects at NielsenIQ Baltics.

79 percent more than half of those surveyed said they lacked communication and said they felt tension in the family. People began to see the economic situation of the country in a more negative way.

58 percent would be vaccinated.

When asked how many people would agree to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in Lithuania, 36 percent. 23% of those surveyed said they would actually get vaccinated with COVID-19, and 23% said they would vaccinate faster than not. Thus, in total, according to the survey data, 58% of Lithuanians would like to be vaccinated. population.

According to medical experts, to achieve herd immunity, it would be necessary to have at least 90 percent. the country’s population would have acquired immunity, vaccinated or sick. To control the coronavirus, 60-70% societies must have immunity, so a similar number must be vaccinated.

At this point, if we had enough vaccines, staff, and other tools and vaccinated as many as they wanted, we would get closer to the percentage that would help control the coronavirus. But it is not yet possible to speak of herd immunity, ”said the expert.

16 percent. undecided

In Lithuania, even 26 percent. according to the survey, would not agree with the vaccination, and 16 percent. people are undecided.

People are more encouraged by previous negative experiences with vaccination: People who have already been exposed to the coronavirus among their relatives or acquaintances are more likely to be in favor of vaccination.

In Latvia and Estonia, there are fewer people exposed to the coronavirus in the immediate environment than in Lithuania. However, in recent months, the number of people exposed to the coronavirus in neighboring countries has risen much faster than in Lithuania.

“Due to the fact that Latvians and Estonians are less exposed to the coronavirus, their willingness to get vaccinated is slightly lower than in Lithuania,” says A. Ivanauskienė.

Vaccines are the most favored by people aged 45 to 64 years

According to the survey, the majority of those who want to get vaccinated are between 45 and 64 years old. These are often people from smaller households who have already had children. These people are more likely to have higher education, work in offices, be civil servants, or hold managerial positions.

The most worrying thing, according to the specialist, is the demographic picture of those who do not want to be vaccinated. Among them, mostly people from 25 to 35 years old.

As they are of working age, they have more social contacts when they go to work. Also, these people often come from larger households.

People in this group have lower income, lower education. These include a number of services, commercial workers, manual workers, the unemployed, and homemakers. These people are less receptive to innovation, are often conservative, and are more likely to be unfamiliar with people with COVID-19 infection.

“If we look at the undecided, there are more schoolchildren or students living in larger households. Their income is lower and their education is lower because they are still in the learning process. These people are less receptive to innovations, conservative points of view ”, pointed out A. Ivanauskienė.