Will you take a COVID-19 vaccine? New study shows growing number of people willing to get it

ATLANTA — Are you going to take the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes widely available? A new study suggests there is a growing number of people who say yes.

However, the study showed that Black Americans are still more reluctant to take a vaccine.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington spoke with a health care worker who is set to get the newly approved Pfizer vaccine in the next few days.

“Working in the emergency room, I can absolutely tell people that this virus can be devastating to individuals and families,” said Jed Tiller, who is a registered nurse.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Pandemic in Georgia]

Tiller has taken care of COVID-19 patients over the last several months and has seen what the virus can do firsthand.

“These people were sick. They could not breathe, and they were alone,” Tiller said.

He told Washington that he took a survey at the hospital where he works and signed up to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

“With being nine months into this and having a vaccine to help us get out of this, I’m excited. I mean, apprehensive because it’s brand new. But I mean, I signed up for it, and I’ll absolutely take it,” Tiller said.

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According to a new Kaiser Family Foundation study, about 71% of Americans now said they will definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine. That number increased from 63% in September.

“We’re building trust in people wanting to take the vaccine,” said Dr. Chirag Patel, with Wellstar Health System.

Washington asked Patel what he thought the reason was behind the sudden increase of people willing to take the vaccine.

“I think people are going to take the vaccine at a higher clip because people are seeing that it’s safe,” Patel said.

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Still, the study found that Black Americans, people living in rural areas and Republicans are less likely or hesitant about getting the vaccine.

Patel said people should trust the science.

“The test and trials are pretty robust. We know that there are some mild symptoms after the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine,” Patel said.

“We have Dr. Fauci and other health officials who are willing to take it and who believe in science, and this is the start of trying to get out of this pandemic. So I would encourage those people to not to disregard their apprehension but to trust the science and to know that this is the start of getting out of this,” Tiller said.

The study found that there is more public trust in the vaccine as more information about it gets released daily.

Health care workers in Georgia get COVID-19 vaccine in first large-scale effort for state Hospitals in metro Atlanta are expected to begin receiving doses of the vaccine on Wednesday.