One in 3 Americans would refuse an FDA-approved coronavirus vaccine even if it were offered at no cost, a new Gallup poll released Friday found.
The results, based on survey conducted between July 20 and Aug. 2, found that 65% of respondents said they would accept the offer and get themselves vaccinated while 35% said they would not.
The new poll falls in line with previous Gallup findings suggesting political party preference plays a strong role in Americans' views on COVID-19.
Eighty-one percent of Democrats would be willing to get vaccinated immediately with a free, FDA-approved vaccine, the poll found, compared with 59% of independents and 47% of Republicans.
Middle-aged Americans seem to be the most wary.
Gallup's pollsters found 70% of senior citizens and 76% of adults under the age of 30 said they're willing to get an approved COVID-19 vaccination right away.
But only 64% of people between 30 and 50 years old and 59% of people between 50 and 64 years old said they would get the shot.
White Americans, meanwhile, are more likely than non-white Americans to say they would be vaccinated _ 67% compared with 59%, the poll reported.
Gallup highlighted the disparity, considering Black and Latino Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
"As the situation stands today, the nation's influencers _ including health professionals, policymakers and leaders _ who see a vaccine as a way forward may have their work cut out for them in persuading Americans to take advantage of such an option," Gallup said in a post announcing the findings.
"Policymakers in government, healthcare, industry and education will need to anticipate that a significant proportion of the population will be hesitant to get a vaccine, even at no cost," the group said.
