Racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 vaccine readiness among adults in the United States, January 2021-April 2023

Abstract

Racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and have experienced systemic, attitudinal, and access-related barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. We examined differences in COVID-19 vaccine readiness-a composite measure of vaccination intention and behavior-between non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian American/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native U.S. adults. Using data from a cross-sectional survey administered to nationally representative samples of ∼ 5,000 U.S. adults each month from January 2021 to April 2023 (n = 135,989), we conducted weighted ttests comparing the monthly percentage of participants from racial/ethnic groups who were "Vaccine Ready." Initial racial/ethnic disparities in vaccine readiness were attenuated within a 7-month period, after which adults from most minority racial/ethnic groups became equally or more vaccine ready compared to non-Hispanic White adults (p < 0.05). Findings suggest that barriers to vaccine readiness that were more prevalent in non-White racial/ethnic groups may have largely been addressed.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; COVID-19 vaccine readiness; Health disparities; Health equity; Race/ethnicity.