There are many people that remain skeptical about the COVID 19 vaccine. This group of people has hesitancy about receiving the vaccine despite information that it is effective and side effects are expected, but minimal.
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor reports that 31% of the public say that when an FDA-approved vaccine for COVID-19 is available to them for free, they will “wait until it has been available for a while to see how it is working for other people” before getting vaccinated themselves.
Those in the “wait and see” category express high levels of concern about the safety and long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines as well as a desire for more information about vaccine side effects and effectiveness.
Most adults in this group (60%) do not yet know someone who’s been vaccinated for COVID-19, presenting an opportunity for them to learn more as more of their friends and family members get vaccinated.
Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (who make up just over a third of the “wait and see” group) are more likely to believe the seriousness of COVID-19 is being exaggerated in the news, and more likely to view vaccination as a personal choice.
A majority of Black and Hispanic adults in this group are concerned they might get COVID-19 from the vaccine, suggesting an opening for information to correct misperceptions about how the vaccine works among this group.
One-third of Black adults and three in ten Hispanic adults in the “wait and see” group say they’ll turn to a religious leader for information, suggesting another possible avenue for communicating with these groups about COVID-19 vaccines.
Demographically, those who want to “wait and see” are younger than other groups (29% are under age 30 and just 15% are ages 65 and over). They are a racially diverse group, with half (51%) identifying as White, 16% Black, and 19% Hispanic.