COVID-19 Vaccination Receipt and Changes in Vaccination Intent by Socioeconomic Characteristics and Geographic Area, United States, January 6 to March 29, 2021

Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2021.1957998

Commentary

A previous study suggested that one-third of U.S. adults did not plan to be vaccinated after the COVID-19 vaccine was available.

This study examined changes in vaccine intentions and attitudes among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults by sociodemographic characteristics and geographic region, factors associated with vaccination intentions, and reasons for non-vaccination.

Data from six waves of the household pulse survey (January 6 to March 29, 2021) were analyzed, and differences between January and March were assessed using t-tests.

Factors associated with vaccination intention were examined in a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results showed that from early January to late March, the intention to receive one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine or to be vaccinated for sure increased from 54.7 to 72.3%. However, disparities in vaccination intention continued to exist by age group, racial/ethnic group, and socioeconomic characteristics.

Vaccine receipt and intent was lowest in Region 4 (Southeast US) throughout this period, with adults who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 or were unsure if they had ever been infected with COVID-19 being less likely to be vaccinated.

Beliefs that the vaccine is not necessary increased by more than 5 percent between early January and late March, according to some reports.