Tracking COVID-19 Vaccination Enthusiasm and Hesitancy
By Clive Riddle, April 2, 2021
The monthly Kaiser Family Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report released this week "finds enthusiasm for getting a COVID-19 vaccine continuing to grow, with roughly 6 in 10 adults (61%) now saying they have already gotten at least one dose (32%) or want to get vaccinated as soon as they can (30%)." KFF tells us "that’s up from a combined 55% in February and 47% in January, as more people report getting vaccinated and fewer say they want to “wait and see” how the vaccine works in others before getting it themselves (17% now, compared to 22% in February and 31% in January)."
The report finds that most people now know how to navigate the vaccine system: “For the first time, a majority of those who have not yet been vaccinated say they have enough information both about where (67%) and when (53%) they can get vaccinated, though the report also finds a sizeable minority that lacks key vaccine information.
For those still unsure how to navigate or if they are eligible, the report states “the share that is uncertain is highest among Hispanic adults (45%), those under age 30 (39%), with annual household incomes under $40,000 annually (37%), and those without a college degree (35%).”
KFF launched their Vaccine Monitor in December, tracking who has received the vaccine, would get one asap, or listed their degree of hesitancy. Previously, surveys were more hypothetical, asking if they were somewhat or very likely to receive the vaccine We tracked selected surveys during the past year asking that question, indicating a trend of initial enthusiasm a year ago, waning acceptance as the year progressed until the rollout became more imminent, when acceptance picked back up again – just as in Kaiser’s more recent surveys now that actual vaccinations are taking place.
April 2020
May 2020
July 2020
- 66% Gallup
August 2020
- 62% Gallup
September 2020
- 50% Gallup
- 51% Pew Research Center
October 2020
- 47% SBB Research
- 58% Gallup
November 2020
December 2020
- 53% Invisibly
- 56% JAMA Research Letter
- 61% SBB Research
- 63% Gallup
January 2021
- 65% Gallup
February 2021
What about those disinclined to be vaccinated? What is their state of mind? The Pew February 2021 study included this listing of reasons for those disinclined to take the vaccine:
- Concerned about side effects 89%
- Vaccines developed/tested to quickly 85%
- Want to know more about them 80%
- Too many vaccine mistakes in past 74%
- Don't think I need it 68%
- Decline vaccines in general 57%
This compares to these reasons listed in the March 2021 KFF report:
- Might experience serious side effects 70%
- Effects of the vaccine will be worse than getting COVID-19 63%
- Might be required to get vaccine even if you don't want to 63%
- Might miss work if side effects make you feel sick 45%
- Might get COVID-19 from the vaccine 39%
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