Truth About COVID-19: Poll 1

February 2020

Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth In Medicine Poll: A Majority of Metro Area Residents Would Get Novel Coronavirus Vaccine If One Were to Become Available

• 72 Percent Less Likely to Travel Overseas as a Result of Coronavirus Scare
  

More than half of metro area residents said they would get a vaccine to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus if one were to become available, according to the results of the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll.

As the death toll around the world continues to rise and millions of Chinese residents remain quarantined or under observation, concern about a possible U.S. outbreak of the novel coronavirus (recently named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization) remains high, according to the Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage. Some 55 percent of residents polled said they would get a coronavirus vaccine if one is developed.

Some 62 percent of respondents to the poll—conducted among 600 metro area residents from February 5-9—said they were highly concerned about the coronavirus outbreak, with 72 percent reporting that they are less likely to travel overseas due to the scare.

• 48 percent said they are less likely to take mass transit
• 46 percent said they are less likely to attend large gatherings
• 72 percent agree visitor screening should be required before entering a hospital or public place
  

While many respondents are worried about coronavirus, the flu has remained a much more significant risk to public health in the United States, with at least 16,000 deaths reported since the start of the current flu season.

• "Truth In Medicine" Poll Press Release
• "Truth In Medicine" Poll Results (PDF)
• "Truth In Medicine" Poll Graphs (PDF)

Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth In Medicine Poll: A Majority of Metro Area Residents Would Get Novel Coronavirus Vaccine If One Were to Become Available