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.
They are also a politically diverse group; 42% identify as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents, 36% identify as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents, and 14% are independents who don’t lean either way.
Previous KFF research has found that Black and Hispanic adults overall are less likely to trust doctors, hospitals, and the health care system compared to White adults, and that for Black adults, lower levels of trust are associated with lower levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
Black adults in the “wait and see” category are also less trusting of the health care system in general; a majority (57%) say they trust the health care system just “some of the time” or “almost none of the time” to do what is right for them and their community, compared to 43% of White adults in this category.
Hispanic adults who want to “wait and see” are more divided, with about half saying they trust the health care system “almost all” or “most” of the time (51%) and the other half saying they trust it just “some” or “almost none” of the time (49%).
Despite the levels of distrust, the messages that influence Black and Hispanic adults who are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine are the same ones that appear to be most effective with the public overall – messages that emphasize that the vaccine is highly effective, offers protection from illness, and provides the quickest way for life to return to normal.
Additionally this group, in the midst of distrust, says they will turn to a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider for information when deciding whether to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
In fact, one-third of Black adults in this group say they have already asked a doctor or other health care professional for information about the vaccine, somewhat higher than among vaccine-hesitant White adults (18%).
Changing the minds of the “wait and see” group is difficult at best. Distrust is based upon personal history or direct relationships with someone that has had a negative medical experience. Continuing to share positive outcomes concerning the COVID vaccine is probably the most effective way to influence this demographic.