Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Indonesia below 50 Percent: SMRC Survey

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In relation to the national Covid-19 vaccine program, a survey conducted by the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) shows that only 46 percent of their respondents strongly agreed to be vaccinated. 

Out of the 1,220 random respondents, 28 percent of them refused to participate in the vaccination while 23 percent claimed they were still uncertain about the inoculation.

“This finding needs to be watched closely,” said SMRC director Deni Irvani in a statement on March 23. 

In order to effectively suppress the spread of Covid-19, Deni said, at least 70 percent of the population would need to have immunity against the virus that first spread from China. SMRC claimed its survey encompassed every Indonesian province.

The survey was conducted from February 28 - March 8 through in-person interviews on 1,220 random respondents with a claimed margin of error of 3.07 percent. 

Moreover, Deni Irvani explained that there are a number of factors that could affect a person’s willingness to be inoculated, specifically the Covid-19 vaccine. Firstly, is the safety aspect of the vaccine as the survey found 64 percent believed the vaccine was safe and that they were willing to get the shots.

Secondly, campaigns spread by anti-vaxxers also affect a person’s willingness to undergo vaccination. Roughly 35 percent of those who were asked to reject the vaccination were willing to get the shots, while 47 percent of others were never exposed to anti-vaxxer campaigns and were willing to be inoculated. 

Other aspects include the fear of transmitting the coronavirus (59 percent) and the growing number of daily cases (52 percent). Meanwhile, a growing number of the 39 percent of respondents who did not believe the government statistics were becoming more willing to be vaccinated. 

Read: Jakarta Refutes Anti Covid-19 Vaccination Survey Report

DEWI NURITA