Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), February 7: A total of 59 percent of Brunei people would definitely or likely take the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available in the country, a vaccine intension survey conducted by the sultanate's Ministry of Health revealed.
Thirty-three percent of respondents were unsure for the time being. Only 8 percent said that they would definitely not or were unlikely to take the COVID-19 vaccine, local daily the Borneo Bulletin reported on Saturday, quoting the health ministry survey.
The survey found that 81 percent of the respondents believed that getting a COVID-19 vaccine was either very important or moderately important for their health. In contrast, 15 percent thought that COVID-19 vaccination was less important for their health.
Additionally, 84 percent of survey respondents thought they would trust the health ministry's recommendation to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the report, the survey aimed to assess the acceptability of a potential COVID-19 vaccine among the general adult population in Brunei and explore the public's ideas, concerns, and expectations regarding vaccination.
The health ministry said that they would use the survey findings to address public concerns and refine its strategy for the COVID-19 vaccination program to ensure that it reaches as many people as possible, especially senior citizens and other highest risk individuals in the community.
"To date, over 120 million people across the world have already been vaccinated against COVID-19, and it is important that in Brunei Darussalam, we play our role in taking the vaccine when it is available to us," the ministry said.
Brunei reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, maintaining the national tally at 181.
No more recoveries were recorded, maintaining the total number of recovered cases at 173. There are five active patients still being treated at the National Isolation Centres.
A total of 40 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. At present, Brunei has recorded 276 days without COVID-19 local infection cases.
Meanwhile, currently there are 460 individuals who are undergoing mandatory isolation at the monitoring centres provided by the government, as they have arrived in the country after travelling abroad.
There have been three deaths that resulted from COVID-19 in Brunei.
Source: Xinhua