SMRC Survey: 29 Percent Of People Do Not Want To Be Vaccinated, 23 Percent Still In Doubt

Illustration-Vaccine Recipient (Photo: East Java Provincial Government DOK)

JAKARTA - The SMRC survey institute released a public opinion poll regarding the implementation of national vaccination. SMRC research director Deni Irvani explained, there are still many people who do not want to be vaccinated.

"In fact, there are very many people, namely 29 percent of the population who do not want to be vaccinated. Only 46 percent are determined to be vaccinated and there is 23 percent who are still in doubt or think about it first, and 2 percent do not answer this question", said Deni in the survey presentation virtually, Tuesday, March 23.

Deni assumed that the proportion of citizens who are likely to receive vaccinations is 61 percent. This figure is compiled from the number of respondents who said they wanted to be vaccinated, still in doubt, and did not answer.

Unfortunately, this figure is still below the government's target of achieving community immunity or herd immunity to overwhelm the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think this needs to be our common concern, of course. If we link it with the target of reaching 71 percent of the population, this proportion is certainly still less than the target set by the government", said Deni.

If you look at the ethnic proportion, the population who do not want to be vaccinated is relatively greater in the number of people with Madurese ethnic background with 58 percent. Then, from the religious side, Muslims who do not want to be vaccinated are bigger by 31 percent.

"Those who do not want to be vaccinated are relatively more residents in areas outside Java, as much as 33 percent. In Java, the largest number of people who do not want to be vaccinated is DKI residents as much as 33 percent", he said.

Then, Deni also explained the number of respondents who had undergone vaccination. Currently, 2.7 percent of the population has been vaccinated. Meanwhile, 97.3 percent said they had not received the vaccine.

For information, this survey was conducted from 28 February to 8 March 2020. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1.220 randomly selected respondents. The margin of error for this survey is estimated to be around 3.07 percent and the survey's confidence level is 95 percent.

The national COVID-19 vaccination program is targeted to receive 181.5 million people. They are people aged 18 years and over. Vaccine recipients receive twice the injection dose.

Currently, vaccination is in the second stage. In the first phase, the vaccine is intended for 1.5 million health workers. In the second stage, COVID-19 vaccination is for the elderly and public service workers. The target is 21.5 million elderly and 16.9 million public workers. This program lasts until May.

They are market merchants, educators, religious leaders and counselors, representatives of the people, officials, government, civil servants, the National Army and Police Force, tourism officers, public services, public transportation workers, athletes, and media workers.

Furthermore, vaccination will be carried out for 63.9 million vulnerable people or people living in areas with a high risk of infection. Then, other communities as many as 77.7 million people. This program will be carried out from April 2021 to March 2022.