As scientists raced to create new vaccines that would fight the novel coronavirus, Matthew Motta had a question: What did Americans expect from these vaccines?

Motta, a political scientist at Oklahoma State University who studies vaccine hesitancy, polled nearly 1,000 American adults on their expectations for the then-hypothetical shots. His peer-reviewed study, published this March in Social Science & Medicine, uncovered what he described as predictable results: Given the choice between various efficacy rates and single or multi-dose shots, the vaccine Americans would most prefer was a single dose that boasted at least 90 percent efficacy and almost zero chance of causing even minor side effects.

“It’s not too surprising that people would prefer safe and effective vaccines,”