WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — From April to December, there was a significant decline in the number of Americans who say they are willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a research letter published online Dec. 29 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Peter G. Szilagyi, M.D., from the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues conducted a biweekly online survey (8,167 participants; April 1 to 14 through Nov. 25 to Dec. 8) to assess trends in the public’s likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
The researchers found that during the Nov. 25 to Dec. 8 survey period, the self-reported likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccination was lower among women than men (51 versus 62 percent; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.9) and among Black versus White individuals (38 versus 59 percent; aRR, 0.7). Vaccination likelihood was higher among adults aged 65 years and older versus those 18 to 49 years of age (69 versus 51 percent; aRR, 1.4) and those with at least a bachelor’s degree versus a high school education or less (70 versus 48 percent; aRR, 1.5). During the entire survey period (April 1 to 14 to Nov. 25 to Dec. 8), the percentage who stated they were somewhat or very likely to get vaccinated declined from 74 to 56 percent. These significant declines over time were seen for both women and men and in all age, racial/ethnic, and educational subgroups.
“Low likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine among Black individuals and those with lower educational backgrounds is especially concerning because of their disproportionately higher burden from COVID-19 disease,” the authors write.
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