What predicts COVID-19 vaccine willingness
About two-thirds of surveyed adults were ready to vaccinate; perceived risk, news sources, and partisanship shaped willingness.
Source
Individual and social determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake
Study at a glance
- Design
- Cross-sectional — Nationwide US probability panel survey before vaccines were available
- N
- N=1012 · Representative adults; oversample of poverty and racial/ethnic minorities
- Population
- US adults in KnowledgePanel
- Outcome
- Willingness to vaccinate self and dependents against COVID-19
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What predicts COVID-19 vaccine willingness
These passages occur verbatim in the stored paper text. They support the points listed below; they do not verify every statement in the explanation.
About 68% were ready to get the vaccine themselves.
In our sample, about 68% said that they were ready to get the vaccine for themselves and 65% agreed that they would vaccinate people under their care such as children.
Which risk beliefs linked to willingness?
Those who felt that they were more susceptible to COVID-19 and that the consequences are likely to be severe were more willing to vaccinate themselves and people under their care.
What they did
Investigators analysed survey responses on willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine for oneself and for dependents, relating answers to risk perceptions, major news platforms, political identity, confidence in scientists, and social determinants.
What they found
About 68% were ready to vaccinate themselves and 65% would vaccinate people under their care. Higher perceived susceptibility and severity tracked higher willingness; family COVID history did not. Partisan and media patterns also related to acceptance.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Cross-sectional intention is not the same as later uptake, and self-report can overstate willingness. Causal effects of media or party identity cannot be isolated.
Key terms
- Vaccine willingness
- Stated readiness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Risk perception
- Judged personal susceptibility and severity of COVID-19.
- Social determinants
- Non-medical conditions that shape health opportunities.
- Partisanship
- Political party identification linked to vaccine attitudes.
- Dependent vaccination
- Willingness to vaccinate children or others in one’s care.
- News platform
- Major source group for COVID-19 information.
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Approx. self-vaccine readiness was:
Common questions
Self vs dependent willingness?
About 68% self vs 65% for dependents.
Did family infection predict intent?
No significant association.
What risk beliefs mattered?
Higher susceptibility and severity.
Was politics relevant?
Partisan split appeared in acceptance.
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