Ocugen/Harris Poll Finds Americans Want More COVID-19 Vaccine Options

Rhea-AI Summary

Ocugen's recent survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, reveals strong public interest in alternative COVID-19 vaccines developed through traditional methods. Key findings indicate that 73% of Americans prefer more conventional vaccine options, and 40% of unvaccinated parents would consider vaccinating their children if a new, more traditional vaccine were available. Additionally, 38% of parents with children under 5 are hesitant about existing vaccines. This data highlights the demand for diverse vaccine options amidst ongoing discussions about childhood vaccinations.

Positive

• 73% of Americans want additional COVID-19 vaccine options based on traditional methods.
• 40% of unvaccinated parents would be more inclined to vaccinate their children with a new traditional vaccine.
• 70% of Americans believe it's important for children to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Negative

• 38% of parents with children under age 5 likely won't vaccinate them with existing vaccines.

• 73% of Americans would like to see additional COVID-19 vaccines be available that are developed from a more traditional method
• 40% of parents whose children under age 18 are not yet vaccinated say they would be more likely to vaccinate their children if there was a new COVID-19 vaccine developed from a more traditional method
• 38% of parents with children age 5 and under say they definitely/probably will not get their children age 5 and under vaccinated with the existing vaccines if/when available

MALVERN, Pa., Feb. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than one year after the first COVID-19 vaccination was administered in the United States and more than 545 million doses later, new data from a survey conducted online by The Harris Poll February 3-7, 2022, among over 2,000 U.S. adults, on behalf of Ocugen, Inc., show a majority of Americans want more COVID-19 vaccines options to choose from. Nearly three quarters of Americans (73%) would like to see additional vaccine options available that are developed from a more traditional method, such as those used for diphtheria, mumps, chickenpox, or polio, which have been used for decades in children and adults.

While the childhood vaccine discussion is ongoing, the survey showed that 38% of parents with children age 5 and under say they definitely/probably will not get their children vaccinated for COVID-19 with the existing vaccines if/when they are eligible.

“With the nation’s attention focused on the health and safety of children under 5 in the face of the pandemic, it’s important that we all keep in mind that nearly 2 in 5 parents with kids 5 and under say they will not get their kids vaccinated with the available vaccines,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Ocugen, Inc. “All safe and effective options should be considered to manage the pandemic.”

Other key findings from the survey include:

• 41% of parents with children under age 18 who have not yet vaccinated their children for COVID-19, say they would be more likely to get their child vaccinated if there were a new vaccine that was more effective against multiple variants and emerging variants of concern
• 70% of Americans believe it’s important for children to be vaccinated against COVID-19
• 75% of vaccinated Americans agree that if a COVID-19 booster is recommended every six months they will get it
  

Survey Method:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Ocugen, Inc. from February 3-7, 2022, among 2,015 adults ages 18+.This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Ocugen, Inc.
Ocugen, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing gene therapies to cure blindness diseases and developing a vaccine to save lives from COVID-19. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases with one drug – “one to many” and our novel biologic product candidate aims to offer better therapy to patients with underserved diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. We are co-developing Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN™ vaccine candidate for COVID-19 in the U.S. and Canadian markets. For more information, please visit www.ocugen.com.

About Bharat Biotech 
Bharat Biotech has established an excellent track record of innovation with more than 145 global patents, a wide product portfolio of more than 16 vaccines, 4 bio-therapeutics, registrations in more than 123 countries, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Pre-qualifications. Located in Genome Valley in Hyderabad, India, a hub for the global biotech industry, Bharat Biotech has built a world-class vaccine & bio-therapeutics, research & product development, Bio-Safety Level 3 manufacturing, and vaccine supply and distribution.

Having delivered more than 4 billion doses of vaccines worldwide, Bharat Biotech continues to lead innovation and has developed vaccines for influenza H1N1, Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Chikungunya, Zika, and the world’s first tetanus-toxoid conjugated vaccine for Typhoid. Bharat’s commitment to global social innovation programs and public-private partnerships resulted in introducing path-breaking WHO pre-qualified vaccines BIOPOLIO^®, ROTAVAC^®, and Typbar TCV^® combatting polio, rotavirus, typhoid infections, respectively. The acquisition of the rabies vaccine facility, Chiron Behring, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has positioned Bharat Biotech as the world's largest rabies vaccine manufacturer. To learn more about Bharat Biotech, visit www.bharatbiotech.com.

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion and social sentiment since 1963. Harris is a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times, working with clients in building corporate reputation, brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. Learn more by visiting www.harrispoll.com and follow Harris Poll on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include information about qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for clinical trials, and anticipated timing of clinical trial readouts and regulatory submissions, including statements about data from the Phase 2 study conducted by Emory University that we sponsored, and the potential for this data to support our application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA) of COVAXIN™ in pediatric patients or our planned biologics license application (BLA), assuming the clinical hold is lifted, for approval of COVAXIN™ for use in adult patients, as well as statements regarding the potential short and long-term benefits of receiving a booster dose of COVAXIN™. This information involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates; the risk that we may not resolve the current clinical hold on COVAXIN™ in the near term or at all, or that the FDA could make other decisions that adversely impact our ability to advance the development of COVAXIN™ in the United States, and the implications that this clinical hold may have for our request for EUA of COVAXIN for pediatric use, including the timing and scope of any such authorization; risks associated with preliminary and interim data, including the possibility of unfavorable new clinical trial data and further analyses of existing clinical trial data; the risk that the results of in-vitro studies will not be duplicated in human clinical trials; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when data from Bharat Biotech's clinical trials will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications; whether the data and results from the preclinical and clinical studies of COVAXIN™, which have been conducted by Bharat Biotech in India, will be accepted by the FDA or otherwise sufficient to support our EUA submission or planned BLA submission, assuming the clinical hold is lifted; the size, scope, timing and outcome of any additional trials or studies that we may be required to conduct to support an EUA or BLA; any additional chemistry, manufacturing, and controls information that we may be required to submit to the FDA; whether and when a BLA for COVAXIN™ will be submitted to or approved by the FDA; whether developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the regulatory pathway available for vaccines in the United States, Canada or other jurisdictions; market demand for COVAXIN™ in the United States or Canada; decisions by the FDA or Health Canada impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of COVAXIN™ in the United States or Canada, including development of products or therapies by other companies. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Ocugen Contact: 
Ken Inchausti
Head, Investor Relations & Communications
+1 484 237 3398
ken.inchausti@ocugen.com

Please submit investor-related inquiries to: IR@ocugen.com

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/58e47fc3-a62f-4253-a077-1f5bfdd801b3

FAQ

What percentage of Americans want more traditional COVID-19 vaccines?

73% of Americans expressed a desire for additional COVID-19 vaccine options developed using traditional methods.

How many parents would consider vaccinating their children if a new vaccine was developed?

40% of parents whose children are unvaccinated said they would be more likely to vaccinate if there was a new traditional vaccine available.

What concerns do parents have regarding existing COVID-19 vaccines for young children?

38% of parents with children aged 5 and under are hesitant to vaccinate them with the existing COVID-19 vaccines.