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35% of Brits are unlikely to take a vaccine

With a vaccine on the horizon it has been revealed that 35 per cent of Brits are unlikely to take it when it becomes available, according to the latest polling.

Six in ten now think a vaccine will become available to “people like them” by the end of April, up from 49 per cent two weeks ago.

However, underlying worries about the vaccine have not been alleviated by the latest news, as over a third say they are unlikely to take a vaccine, with those worrying believing it will not be safe (48 per cent), effective (47 per cent), or that it might have side effects (55 per cent).

Despite claims to the contrary from Health Secretary Matt Hancock, just 10 per cent of respondents think that Brexit has helped the UK get a vaccine, with 24 per cent thinking it has hindered it, and 48 per cent thinking it has done neither.

Over a third (39 per cent) support the loosening of restrictions over this festive period, while 32 per cent oppose. One reason for this might be the worry about it spreading the virus further, as 70 per cent think it could lead to another lockdown in January.

In fact, parents and siblings seem to be getting disinvited to Christmas dinner this year, as only one in four (23 per cent) respondents say they will spend Christmas with their parents in comparison to the usual 35 per cent. And only 15 per cent say they will spend Christmas dinner with their siblings this year, down from 27 per cent.

Furthermore, the number of people who plan to spend Christmas alone this year has doubled, up from 4 per cent to 8 per cent. This is also higher for the over 65s (14 per cent).

Related: As Brexit talks go down to the 11th hour the right wing brigade say: Blame the French

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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