One in five Britons are unsure whether they would get a coronavirus vaccine if it becomes available, according to research.

Of 5,000 polled by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), 19% said they would either refuse to get the jab, or they were undecided on it.

Common reasons included feeling they already have immunity from COVID-19, or wanting other people to have the vaccine before them.

Social media rumours were another factor that was frequently mentioned by those who took part.

The 81% who said they would opt for the coronavirus vaccine said their main reasons were to protect themselves and others.


According to the RSPH, vaccine coverage rates in the UK have been declining in recent years, while scepticism about their safety has continued to rise.

Last year, the World Health Organisation listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health.

RSPH chief executive Shirley Cramer said: "It is concerning indeed that, despite this upheaval, a substantial minority remain unsure about the prospect of a vaccination against COVID-19.

"It is clear that our only long-term exit strategy from the current situation is a vaccine, and so it's vital that the stage is set for it to be distributed fairly and comprehensively once that time comes.

"The public should be reassured that vaccines are a safe and exceptionally effective way of fighting infectious diseases like coronavirus, and even in a normal year save two to three million lives across the globe."

Raab announces UK lockdown extension

Facebook is now planning to show alerts to people who have previously interacted with misinformation about coronavirus.

On Thursday, foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced that the UK lockdown would be extended for at least another three weeks to ensure the country gets over the peak of the epidemic.

Meanwhile, health minister Nadine Dorries suggested "full lockdown" would be required until a vaccine for COVID-19 is found.

On Twitter, she wrote: "There is only one way we can 'exit' full lockdown and that is when we have a vaccine. Until then, we need to find ways we can adapt society and strike a balance between the health of the nation and our economy."