Social Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes and Behaviors in the U.S.

• In Event: 20820 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 2. Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has an overarching impact on human societies across the globe. While there have been successes in timely development of vaccinations, more public efforts are being called to diminish the unvaccinated populations. In the U.S., wide offering of COVID-19 vaccines to the general public started in May 2021, but vaccination rates have been relatively stalled since late 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a unique opportunity for studying social determinants of vaccine attitudes and behaviors. This paper investigates social and demographic predictors of vaccine intentions and attitudes (e.g., trust, confidence, concerns) among U.S. adults. It further investigates how these vaccine intentions and attitudes are associated with individuals’ actual vaccine uptake and related behaviors. I analyze data from the Coronavirus Tracking Survey, which is part of the Understanding America Study. Preliminary results show that higher-risk individuals, both subjectively measured by self-perception and objectively measured by pre-existing conditions, have greater trust in vaccine in general; however, they do not differ from lower-risk individuals in terms of trust in COVID vaccine and its side effects. Findings from this project will shed light on the underlying mechanisms promoting or discouraging individuals’ vaccine uptake in the U.S. during post-COVID era, so that there can be more effective communications with targeted groups to address their reasonable concerns and even fears about vaccines.

Author

• Kelin Li, California State Univ-Dominguez Hills