Intention to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Has Grown Faster Among Black Adults

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine has increased more rapidly in Black individuals versus White individuals, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Network Open.

Tasleem J. Padamsee, Ph.D., from The Ohio State University in Columbus, and colleagues compared changes in vaccine hesitancy between Black and White individuals in the United States. The analysis included seven waves of data of 1,200 adults contacted monthly (Dec. 9, 2020, to June 16, 2021).

The researchers found that Black and White people had comparable vaccination intentions in December 2020, but Black individuals experienced significantly larger increases in vaccination intention than White individuals compared with baseline in March 2021, April 2021, May 2021, and June 2021. There were similar greater increases in the belief that the vaccines are necessary for protection among Black versus White individuals in March 2021 and April 2021. There was a positive association between beliefs that the vaccines are safe and effective and necessary with vaccination intention.

"Vaccination rates continue to be lower among Black individuals than White individuals, but these results suggest that this might be less likely the result of vaccine hesitancy than other factors," the authors write.

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