Seventh wave of surveys in June/July 2021
Results of the 7th survey wave from 21st of June to 5th of Juli 2021
Europe-wide Corona study: Willingness to get vacciated on the rise
Great concern about further mutations and a 4th wave in autumn
Despite rising vaccination rates, more than 90 percent of people are worried about the spread of new virus mutations and a possible 4th wave in autumn. This is the result of the current survey of the European COvid Survey (ECOS) between 21 June and 6 July 2021. Nevertheless, the majority rejects vaccination incentives in the form of gifts or vouchers to achieve herd immunity. Overall, however, the willingness to vaccinate among adults in Germany rose to 73 percent.
In almost all European countries surveyed, the willingness to vaccinate has increased in recent months. It now ranges from 67 percent in France to 84 percent in Denmark and Great Britain. "The increase can be explained in particular by the decline in the proportion of the unsure," says Professor Dr Jonas Schreyögg, scientific director of the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) at the University of Hamburg. In Germany, the number of undecideds dropped from 17 to 7 percent since April 2021, while the willingness to vaccinate increased from 67 to 74 percent in the same period. Within Germany, only the east is not above the 70 percent mark in terms of willingness to vaccinate and, at almost 25 percent, almost twice as many people refuse as the north. Here, only 14 percent are sceptical about vaccination. In contrast, 78 percent want to be vaccinated.
For the first time, parents were asked whether they want to have their children vaccinated against Corona. In the Netherlands and France, only about half of the respondents said so, while the greatest support came from parents in Portugal and Spain: Here, almost three out of four adults are in favour of vaccinating their children against Corona. In Germany, the figure is 53 percent. "In principle, parents are in favour of vaccinating children to protect them against Corona infection. However, for many parents, the current lack of scientific data on possible side effects is the main reason for hesitating," says Schreyögg.
No end in sight? Worried look ahead to autumn
Although vaccinations are increasing and incidence figures are decreasing, many people are worried about the further development of the pandemic. "Within Europe, we see a north-south divide," Jonas Schreyögg explains. In Spain and Portugal in particular, the fear of further virus mutations is great: 96 and 97 percent of those surveyed are worried, respectively. 75 percent of the Portuguese population are even very or extremely worried. In Germany, these values are significantly lower at 87 and 51 percent; about nine out of ten respondents are worried here. A very similar picture emerges when it comes to the question of a possible fourth wave in autumn. Only ten percent in Germany are not worried about this, while 57 percent are very or extremely worried. "Here, too, we can see that the concerns of the population are increasing from Denmark to the Mediterranean countries," says Schreyögg.
With money and gifts to herd immunity?
Can vaccination incentives accelerate herd immunity and thus reduce people's worries? "We have investigated here whether measures that are already used in Israel or the USA, for example, would also find acceptance in Europe," explains Schreyögg. Whether it's a restaurant voucher, a million-dollar lottery or 100 euros for a vaccination - 54 percent of all respondents generally reject vaccination incentives to achieve herd immunity, and another 27 percent are undecided. "The different offers all achieve roughly the same results, which rather indicates a fundamental rejection of incentives," Schreyögg explains. In Germany, for example, only 24 per cent are in favour of a sum of money, 21 per cent of a meal voucher and only 20 per cent each of a lottery or a scholarship to attend university.
Mask remains, air travel and handshakes are becoming less frequent
Questions about changing behaviour and the Corona rules were again part of the survey. While many remained unpopular during the pandemic, some may prove lasting. For example, while only 16 per cent of all respondents plan to work exclusively in a home office in the future, another 30 per cent are considering it at least some of the time. A good half of the respondents also said they would continue to wear masks at least during the flu season, avoid air travel for the most part and refrain from large gatherings of people. And shaking hands and other greetings such as hugs or kisses also seem to be going out of fashion soon: Every second person wants to refrain from doing so in the future.