Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has been researching and tracking the different attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccinations, the second published report reviews Hispanics’ attitudes and beliefs toward the COVID-19 vaccines.
Some of the hardest hit demographics by the pandemic were American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and African Americans. According to the report, “Hispanics were overrepresented when it came to COVID-19 cases and more likely to suffer worse outcomes than their White counterparts. [Additionally], Hispanic adults [have experienced a larger] economic impact [from] the pandemic. 52 percent of Hispanic adults [said] their household has [either] lost a job or income since the [beginning of the pandemic] in February 2020, compared to 42 percent [of White adults. Furthermore], 43 percent claim to be essential workers that are required to work outside of their home.” Of all the different subgroups of this demographic, younger Hispanics are less likely to be vaccinated than adults.
Interestingly, new KFF data shares that:
- “26 percent of Hispanic adults say they will get a COVID-19 vaccine ‘as soon as possible.’
- 43 percent say they will ‘wait until it has been available for awhile to see how it is working for others’ before [receiving the vaccine].
- 11 percent say that will only get a vaccine ‘if required to do so for work, school or other activities.’
- 18 percent say that they ‘will definitely not’ get the vaccine. Hispanic adults say they will either definitely or probably won’t get the vaccine, [comparable] to the national average of 27 percent.”
“Among Hispanic adults, differences across age groups are more pronounced than those across gender, education and income levels. Mirroring age differences among White adults, there is a generational divide among Hispanic adults when it comes to vaccine hesitancy.
- 44 percent of Hispanic adults ages 50 or older say they will definitely [get the vaccine while] 36 percent say they will probably get the COVID-19 vaccine; two thirds of Hispanics under 50 say the same.
- Moreover, when asked more specifically about when they would like to get vaccinated, 38 percent Hispanic adults over 50 say they would want to get vaccinated ‘as soon as they can,’ compared to one in five younger adults who say the same.
- 45 percent of younger Hispanics would prefer to ‘wait and see’ before getting” vaccinated.
69 percent of the Hispanics that are essential workers and under the age of 50 say they will either definitely or probably get the vaccine, 23 percent say they want to get the vaccine as soon as possible, 18 percent they will get the vaccine if it’s required and 18 percent say they are definitely not getting the vaccine.
While the research shows that there is a generational age gap of those that are willing to get vaccinated because they trust it, it’s also worth understanding who this group trusts with health care and COVID-19 information.
- 75 percent of Hispanic adults trust their own doctor
- 71 percent trust the CDC
- 66 percent trust the FDA
- 65 percent trust their local public health department
- 62 percent trust Dr. Fauci
- 58 percent trust President Biden.
As COVID-19 vaccine efforts shift and ramp up, Hispanic adults may have additional barriers to getting vaccinated from a lack of health insurance and therefore a routine provider, being undereducated about the cost of the vaccine and logistical issues, such as transportation. Hispanic adults appear to be open to and learning more about the vaccine from public health organizations and individuals and getting vaccinated. Younger Hispanic adults will require additional reassurance about the vaccine’s safety.
