AMMAN — Despite the slow start of the vaccination campaign, Jordanians are increasingly willing to take the
COVID-19 jab, according to a new study released by Ipsos, an international market research firm.
اضافة اعلان
Three-quarters — around 75 percent — of Jordanians are willing to take the vaccine, higher than Germany and France, where only 74 percent and 59 percent of the population respectively are willing.
The study used both a survey of a representative sample of 1,000 people across the Kingdom, and social intelligence analytics that assessed how individuals discussed the
vaccine online.
Around a third (33 percent) of Jordanians are willing to take the vaccine immediately, whereas 42 percent are willing, but would rather wait, according to the study.
Through comparison with prior studies, the study found that willingness to take the vaccine has increased by 30 percent over the past three months.
Muhannad Nsour, executive director of the
Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network and member of the Epidemics Committee, attributed the turn in Jordanians’ opinions about the vaccine to a variety of causes. Firstly, he said during an interview with
Jordan News, “the country succeeded in raising awareness about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.”
But another painful factor also had an effect on public opinion: the high mortality rate observed in Jordan’s second wave of the virus. “The Jordanian people saw, in every single citizen, or place, or catchment area, they saw people dying from the disease,” Nsour said. “I think they become afraid of that.”
Additionally, Nsour said that the government’s success in procuring vaccines for the population has increased trust. In the past, he said, citizens were frustrated by a government that was urging them to get vaccinated while seemingly unable to provide enough doses for the population interested. “When it became realistic that the country could secure vaccines, people started to come,” he said.
A key factor in increased vaccine willingness is “peer education,” Nsour added; people are more likely to get vaccinated if a loved one has been vaccinated and had a positive experience. “People like to see success stories,” he said, from “their neighbors, sisters, brothers.”
According to Ahmad Sarahneh, head of the Lower House’s Health Committee, the success of vaccines in other countries has also made Jordanians more comfortable with the jab. “People know because the vaccine is successful now,” said Sarahneh. “They see other countries having good results after the vaccine.”
Yet another factor contributing to increased vaccine enthusiasm is the government’s slow introduction of incentives for vaccinated people. Nsour referenced the government’s requirement for tourism workers in the Golden Triangle of Aqaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum to get vaccinated, as well as Aqaba’s announcement of new, vaccine-linked permit cards to go out after curfew.
The study also found that 1 in 2 Jordanians believe the government is not performing enough vaccinations per day.
Nsour expected more Jordanians be on this side of the argument.
“We have sometimes unfortunately a lack of trust” between the government and the people, he said. “Two months ago, the government was able to vaccinate 1,000-2,000 people [per day]. Nowadays, according to the statistics, last week they reached 70,000. And they target 100,000 per day.”
As the government fulfills its vaccine promises, he suggested, trust should rebuilt.
Three quarters (74 percent) of Jordanians believe vaccination is “imperative for lives to return to normal” and 70% believe “the vaccine is effective in protecting them and their families.” However, the study identified a significant portion of Jordanians who agree that most people should take the vaccine, but would rather not take it themselves.
Respondents gave explanations such as that they do not “mingle” with others, and therefore do not need the vaccine, or that they were concerned about the side effects. The study quoted one young man in East Amman saying: “I’m not really interested in it. I believe it would benefit older people in my family more.”
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