Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among adults in four major U.S. metropolitan areas and nationwide

El-Mohandes, A., White, TM, Wyka, K., et al. Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in adults in four major metropolitan areas in the United States and nationwide. SCI Rep 11, 21844 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00794-6

Commentary

This study was evaluating attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and the predictive value of the COVID-VAC, a new measure for adults in four major U.S. metropolitan areas and nationwide.

A 36-item survey of 6037 Americans had been conducted in mid-April 2021.

The survey reported the following factors for acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Not vaccinated, but willing to accept the vaccine.

Not vaccinated and not willing to be vaccinated.

More than 20% of participants did not want to be vaccinated, expressed concerns about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, and questioned the severity of the disease. Poverty, working outside the home, and conservative political views are unwilling predictors. Conversely, those who had personally tested positive for COVID-19 or had family members who had done so were found to be more likely to accept vaccination.

The majority of respondents supported mandatory vaccination of employees and college students. And they preferred to be vaccinated in a clinic. Low income and conservative ideology were strongly associated with vaccine reluctance, independent of race, demonstrating the predictive value of COVID-VAC.

In the future, vaccination mandates are likely to be accepted, but additional effective and targeted interventions are needed to increase vaccination uptake.