Comparison of adult hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general in the USA

• Published in: Vaccine 2024-01, Vol.42 (3), p.645-652
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Kimberly H., Coy, Kelsey C., Black, Carla L., Scanlon, Paul, Singleton, James A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Age groups; Censuses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Educational attainment; Ethnicity; Family income; Hinduism; Households; Immunization; Judaism; Marital status; Nationally representative; Pandemics; Polls & surveys; Public health; R&D; Religion; Research & development; Routinely recommended vaccines; Sociodemographics; Surveys; United States; Vaccine confidence; Vaccine hesitancy; Vaccines; Variables
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.12.042

•Many adults reported being hesitant toward COVID-19 and general vaccines.•COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was higher than vaccine hesitancy in general.•Disparities exist by age group, race/ethnicity, education, income, and religion.•Vaccination was associated with beliefs in social benefit and importance.•Public health officials should address vaccine hesitancy and confidence. Adults who are hesitant toward routinely recommended vaccines for adults may also be hesitant toward COVID-19 vaccines. However, the distribution and differences in hesitancy between routinely recommended vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines, and the association of hesitancy regarding routinely recommended vaccines and hesitancy with COVID-19 vaccination status and intent, is unknown. Using the Research and Development Survey (RANDS) during COVID-19, Round 3, a probability-sampled, nationally representative, web and phone survey fielded from May 17 - June 30, 2021 (n = 5,434), we examined the distribution and difference in prevalence of hesitancy towards COVID-19 and vaccines in general, beliefs associated with vaccine hesitancy, and factors impacting plans to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Reported hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines (42.2%) was 6-percentage points higher than hesitancy towards vaccines in general (35.7%). Populations who were most hesitant toward COVID-19 vaccines were younger adults, non-Hispanic Black adults, adults with lower education or income, and adults who were associated with a religion. Beliefs in the social benefit and the importance of vaccination, and the belief that COVID-19 vaccines lower risk for infection, were strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccination and intent to be vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy for both COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general is common. Health providers and public health officials should utilize strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, including providing strong clear recommendations for needed vaccines, addressing safety and effectiveness concerns, and utilizing trusted messengers such as religious and community leaders to improve vaccine confidence.