Most Chattanooga leaders are concerned about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Tennessee and believe politics and misinformation are the driving forces behind it, according to the latest Times Free Press Power Poll – which surveys people in Chattanooga and Hamilton County who make or influence policy decisions at the local, state and federal levels.
However, the vast majority of those who responded to the survey are extremely willing to be vaccinated themselves, with 88% saying they were “completely willing” to be vaccinated and had already received at least one shot. The survey results reflect state and national trends, where higher levels of vaccine acceptance is seen among populations with higher education attainment and income levels, such as those participating in the Power Poll.
The poll, conducted Monday through Thursday, was sent to 119 people, and 73 replied for a response rate of 61%. While not scientific, the monthly survey gauges what business, civic, education and nonprofit leaders and elected officials are thinking.
Politics was the most popular answer (33%) in terms of what’s fueling vaccine hesitancy, followed by misinformation (25%) and distrust in science/vaccines (14%), though several respondents who left comments about the poll said the issue is multifaceted.
“I definitely do believe that all of the factors listed contribute to the hesitancy in getting vaccinated in addition to other reasons,” wrote Sheila Boyington, co-founder and president of Thinking Media. “It is surprising to hear that people are more worried about side effects of the vaccine than actually getting COVID. As someone who had family and close friends die from COVID and hearing from those on the front line at Erlanger as the vice chairman of their board, I believe we need to trust the science.”