The COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 seem to have all-but-faded from American memory. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that everyone older than six months get the vaccine, noting that it’s particularly important for adults 65 or older, 60% of Americans say they will not be getting an updated vaccine, according to a new report from Pew Research.
Here are the report’s key highlights:
- Vaccine rates vary by political affiliation: More than 60% of Democrats say they will get the vaccine, and nearly a quarter of Democrats say they already have gotten the vaccine. About 80% of Republicans say they won’t get the vaccine, and only 7% already have.
- Vaccine rates also vary by age group: A little more than half (54%) of adults 65 or older say they already have the updated vaccine or plan to get it, and 27% say they already have. However, about 60% of people younger than 65 say they will not get the updated vaccine. Breaking the numbers down further: 42% of Democrats over the age of 65 have received the vaccine, compared to 15% of Republicans of the same age group. Only 5% of Republicans between the ages of 18-29 have received the vaccine compared to 17% of Democrats.
- Most people don’t think they need it: Among adults who opted out of the vaccine, 61% said a major reason for not getting it was they didn’t think they needed it, while 60% said they were concerned about side effects. About a quarter (26%) said they don’t get vaccines in general.