LONDON: The Japanese are most hesitant about novel coronavirus vaccines among 15 major nations, a British survey has shown.

According to the survey by research company Ipsos Mori, respondents wishing to get a vaccination increased in all surveyed countries from last month.

In Japan, the proportion of respondents who strongly agree to take a coronavirus vaccination was only 17 percent, lowest among the 15 surveyed countries.

The number compared with 68 percent in Brazil, 66 percent in Britain and 42 percent in the United States.

Including those who somewhat agree to take a vaccination, 64 percent in Japan have favorable opinions.

The survey also showed that 62 percent in Japan are worried about side effects of coronavirus vaccines, against 63 percent in China, 60 percent in the United States and 59 percent each in Germany and Britain.

“The Japanese seem to be the most hesitant to be vaccinated. This is a trend we have seen in previous surveys,” Ipsos Mori said in a statement.

The latest survey, conducted Jan. 14-17, covered a total of 13,000 people aged between 16 and 74 in the 15 countries, also including France, Russia and South Korea.

JIJI Press