The majority of people in Finland are either 'definitely' or 'probably' going to take the coronavirus vaccine, according to the results of a survey commissioned by Yle and carried out by pollster Taloustutkimus.
Nine percent of respondents replied negatively to the survey's question, with two percent saying they would definitely not take the jab.
The survey further found that people over the age of 65 were the most likely willing to take the vaccine, with 94 percent of that age demographic responding positively to the question.
A majority of younger people were also in favour of taking the vaccine, as 86 percent of the 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed saying they would probably or definitely receive the shot.
However, the 24-35 year old demographic were found to have the most negative attitude towards vaccination, with 17 percent saying that they will definitely or probably refuse.
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In December, a survey on vaccination commissioned by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) found that 64 percent of people in Finland said they would take a coronavirus vaccine if it became available and it was recommended.
Although THL's and Yle's surveys cannot be compared directly, the increased share of positive answers is noteworthy, according to THL's specialist researcher Jonas Sivelä.
The results of the surveys can vary in either direction, depending on how the question is posed and when the survey is taken, but in spite of everything, they both provide an insight into people's attitudes, Sivelä added.
"This is good news, of course. In general, positive attitudes towards the coronavirus vaccine support the fact that more and more people are also taking the vaccine," he said, adding that he was not surprised by the results of the Yle survey as attitudes towards the vaccine have become more positive since the roll out of the vaccination programme began in December.
"I would say, however, that there is a significant difference between the autumn and the latest survey results. It shows that a vaccine is now clearly expected and quite a few are starting to get tired of this pandemic," he said.
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Differences found in education, location
The survey found no significant differences between men and women in terms of positive or negative vaccine attitudes, but education and place of residence did reveal some differences.
Highly educated people were the most positive, with 68 percent saying they wanted to take the vaccine or thought it was likely that they would. In comparison, slightly more than 40 percent of respondents with primary or vocational education said they were certain about getting the jab.
Location was also a noteworthy factor, as about 59 percent of residents of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area that responded to the survey planned to take the vaccine with certainty, while only 46 percent of residents of smaller municipalities were definite about their vaccination plans.
