The Covid-19 vaccine has hit resistance among the young and Black people more sceptical about its benefits than the white population, a survey has revealed.

Survey respondents aged 18 to 34 highlighted reasons that ranged from distrust to not feeling comfortable with the jab, at 55 per cent, to personal choice at 25 per cent.

Another 20 per cent said they were not convinced vaccination was necessary.

Global Research polled 402 people from April 13 to 19 to gauge views on the vaccine.

A total of 19 per cent in the 18 to 35 age group said they “definitely” would not take the jab, nine per cent said they were unwilling and 24 per cent were undecided.

White people were far less likely to turn down the vaccine compared to Black people.

Just one per cent of White people were against the jab, but 16 per cent of Black people said they would “definitely” not get vaccinated.

Black people’s objections to the jab were in line with the reasons given by the 18 to 34 age group.

People who distrusted the shots told Global Research that they believed there had been insufficient research on the vaccine.

They also highlighted the lack of approval from the US Food and Drug Administration because of the swift introduction of vaccines and said they were unsure if it could have an impact on fertility.

The poll predated restrictions announced last weekend in the face of a surge of coronavirus infections and deaths from Covid-19.

The new regulations included a requirement from June for non-immunised travellers to undergo a mandatory 14-day supervised quarantine, which David Burt, the Premier, said people would have to pay for.

Mr Burt has emphasised personal choice – even though he has insisted vaccination was the most effective way to beat the pandemic.

The Premier said on Wednesday that vaccination rates had slowed and the herd immunity goal of 70 per cent would be “difficult to hit by the end of May”.

But Mr Burt said he was optimistic that the country would be at “a level that is very close”.

Global Research said survey respondents highlighted personal choice, a lack of belief in vaccines, religious faith and said they believed God would protect them.

People who said they were not interested in the vaccine added they were healthy or not at risk of serious harm from Covid-19.

A total of 27 per cent of people unwilling to take the jab said they were concerned about the vaccine’s long-term effects.

A total of 72 per cent of people among the undecided said they wanted to wait and see or required more research on vaccine safety and efficacy.

Survey results suggested that White people and people aged 55 or over were more likely to have got the vaccine, or be willing to get it.

A total of 93 per cent of White people surveyed had received the jab or were willing to get it, compared to a figure of 49 per cent of Black people.

Half of the people surveyed said they had taken at least one shot of the vaccine.

The top reason people gave for their willingness to be vaccinated, at 37 per cent, was protection for themselves others.

Ten per cent said they wanted to travel again.

The phone survey results have a 5 per cent plus or minus margin of error.