Over half of people predict Ireland could be hit by another Covid-19 wave this winter – but there is a very strong belief they will be protected if there is another surge.
new Ipsos poll on measuring public attitudes to Covid-19 vaccination found 58pc think another significant wave is either fairly likely or very likely.
It comes amid a rise in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations in recent weeks, and it remains unclear how bad the winter ahead will be for the spread of the virus.
Around 60 patients with Covid-19 are now being admitted to hospital daily. There were 427 Covid-positive patients in hospital on Saturday but just 40pc were treated for complications of the virus.
Just 28pc of people believe a significant rise in Covid-19 cases is unlikely with others unsure, the poll carried out for Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA).
The findings indicate there is strong confidence in the ability of medical science to come up with ways to help manage the impact of new Covid-19 variants which may emerge. Some 70pc of people say this expertise can respond again to a new threat.
Currently the Omicron BA.5 variant is dominant in Ireland, but a number of strains are under surveillance in Europe including the BA.2.75.2, the BF.7 and BQ.X which could potentially gain ground.
Ireland is currently rolling out booster vaccines to protect against the BA.1 strain and separate jabs which cover BA.4 and BA.5.
The findings show 68pc say that they would feel protected against the disease if another wave hits.
And as many 84pc have trust that Ireland is now in a stronger position to cope with another pandemic following the know-how gained in fighting Covid-19.
Some 79pc of people have faith in the effectiveness of vaccines and this has remained constant since June, with 74pc saying they trust “medical evidence” around the jabs.
When it comes to most trusted for information on vaccines, doctors and nurses come out on top, at 85pc, although this has fallen six points since February.
Next in line are pharmacists at 80pc, scientists or vaccine specialists at 79pc, and official health websites at 71pc.
Politicians are among the least trusted, at 14pc, while online user-generated content stands at 7pc.
Some 91pc of people surveyed had been vaccinated for Covid-19 and 44pc had two or more booster doses, with one in three having just one booster.
The survey was carried out in early September before the roll-out of the updated Omicron booster vaccines began this month.
IPHA president Michael O’Connell said: “Public trust in vaccination remains high and our experience of living through Covid-19 gives us confidence in dealing with another pandemic.
“But Covid-19 is still with us so it is encouraging to find that most people believe in the ability of medical science to respond to new variants.
“We know that the formula for scientific invention is intellectual property. That formula helped the industry, with others, to find answers fast for Covid-19, and it is helping us to develop new medicines for a range of other serious medical conditions all the time.
“It is vital that we continue to guard the conditions for innovation, especially in the context of the EU Pharmaceutical Strategy on which policymakers in Brussels are working.”
