Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a stark disproportionate toll on people of color, including the Hispanic population. These disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed and exacerbated longstanding underlying disparities in health and health care facing Hispanic people. Prior to the pandemic, these disparities had already been compounded by immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration that increased fears among immigrant families and made some more reluctant to access programs and services, including health coverage and health care. Although the Biden administration has since reversed many of these policies, they likely continue to have lingering effects.

This report provides insights into the health care experiences of Hispanic adults amid the current environment and examines how they vary by key factors, including insurance and immigration status. A prior report examined the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 for Hispanic adults and their attitudes, experiences with, and barriers to getting COVID-19 vaccinations. This report from the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is based on interviews with 778 Hispanic adults in the U.S., including 334 conducted in Spanish, 392 with adults born outside the U.S., including 185 who indicated that they do not have lawful permanent resident status (referred to in this report as “potentially undocumented”).¹ 

Employment and Income

Individuals’ employment and income affect access to health insurance and ability to afford health care. People in lower wage jobs are less likely to be offered health insurance by their employer and may have more difficulty affording it when it is offered due to their limited incomes. Moreover, people with limited incomes may face more challenges paying for health care costs.

Although Hispanic adults are as likely as White adults to say they are employed, they are more likely to report living in a lower income household. Over half (54%) of Hispanic adults say they are employed, similar to the shares of Black (52%) and White (54%) adults (Figure 1). Among Hispanic adults, nearly six in ten (57%) potentially undocumented Hispanic adults say they are employed, similar to the shares among Hispanics who are U.S.-born (54%) and who are lawful permanent residents (50%). Employed Hispanic adults are more likely than employed White adults to say they currently work solely at a location outside their home (69% vs. 57%), contributing to increased risk of exposure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for those who are unvaccinated. Among employed Hispanic adults, those who are potentially undocumented are more likely to say they are currently working outside the home—84% of potentially undocumented employed Hispanic adults say they work only outside the home compared to 60% of employed U.S.-born Hispanic adults.

Despite being as likely as White adults to report being employed, about half (52%) of Hispanic adults say their annual household income is less than $40,000 compared to 29% of White adults (Figure 2). Nearly eight in ten (78%) potentially undocumented Hispanic adults report annual household income of less than $40,000, compared to 60% of lawful permanent residents and 40% of U.S.-born Hispanic adults.

Health Coverage and Program Participation

Health insurance makes a difference in whether and when people get necessary medical care, where they get their care, and ultimately, how healthy they are. Uninsured adults are far more likely than those with insurance to postpone health care or forgo it altogether. Hispanic people have faced longstanding disparities in health coverage. They were more likely than their White counterparts to be uninsured prior to the pandemic and faced widening gaps in coverage between 2018 and 2019. These coverage declines may, in part, reflect changes to immigration policy, particularly the “public charge” policy under the Trump administration, which contributed to growing fears among immigrant families about participating in public programs, including health coverage. Although the Biden administration has since reversed many of these policies, they may continue to have lingering effects. Further, the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have likely contributed to additional coverage losses that may further widen disparities in coverage for Hispanic people.

Three in ten nonelderly Hispanic adults (31%) say they are uninsured compared to 15% of Black adults and 9% of White adults (Figure 3). The share reporting they don’t have health insurance is much higher among nonelderly Hispanic adults who are potentially undocumented (71%) and somewhat higher among those who are lawful permanent residents (31%) compared to U.S.-born Hispanic adults (18%).

These patterns likely reflect more limited access to employer-sponsored coverage among foreign-born Hispanic adults, due to higher rates of employment in low-wage jobs that are less likely to offer health coverage, as well as more limited access to and barriers to enrolling in public coverage options. Lawfully present immigrants may qualify for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but many, including most lawful permanent residents, must wait five years after obtaining a qualified immigration status before they may enroll. Lawfully present immigrants can purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces and may receive subsidies for this coverage, including those who are not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP because they are in the five-year waiting period. Although lawfully present immigrants are eligible for coverage, they face a range of potential enrollment barriers, including fear, confusion about eligibility policies, difficulty navigating the enrollment process, and language and literacy challenges. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in Medicaid or CHIP or to purchase coverage through the ACA marketplaces.

Some Hispanic adults, particularly those who are potentially undocumented, report that they have avoided seeking assistance for food, housing, and/or health care due to immigration-related fears. One in ten Hispanic adults (11%) say there was there a time in the past 3 years when they or a family member decided not to apply for or stopped participating in a government assistance program because they were afraid it might negatively affect their or a family member’s immigration status (Figure 4). Across Hispanic adults overall, 6% say they did not apply for or stopped participating a program to help with food, 4% say assistance for housing, and 3% say a health care program. The share saying they or a family member did not apply for or stopped participating in a program in the past 3 years due to immigration-related fears increased to 13% among lawful permanent residents and 26% among potentially undocumented Hispanic adults. Overall, 21% of potentially undocumented Hispanic adults say they did not apply for or stopped participating in a program to help with food, 12% say assistance for housing, and 11% say a health care program.

Access to and Experiences Obtaining Health Care

Beyond health coverage, other factors such as having a usual source for health care, accessibility of health care provider locations, and affordability of care have implications for individuals’ access to and use of care, including preventive and primary care as well as care for chronic conditions. Further, individuals’ experiences and relationships with health care providers, including patient-provider communications, can affect the quality of care they receive, their satisfaction with care, and health outcomes.

Usual Source of Care

A usual source of care is a health care provider where people usually go when they are sick or need advice about their health. Research finds that people with a usual source of care are more likely than those without a usual source to get care and less likely to have difficulty obtaining care or to go without receiving needed services.

Hispanic adults, particularly those who are potentially undocumented and uninsured, are more likely than their White counterparts to say they do not have a usual source of care other than the emergency room. Nearly one in four (24%) Hispanic adults overall report no usual source of care other than an emergency room, higher than the share of White adults (12%) and similar to the share of Black adults (28%) (Figure 5). Among Hispanic adults, roughly three in ten potentially undocumented (32%) and lawful permanent resident (29%) adults say they have no usual source of care other than the emergency room, compared to about one in five (19%) U.S.-born adults. Similarly, among nonelderly Hispanic adults, those who are uninsured are more likely than those with insurance to say they do not have a usual source of care other than the emergency room (37% vs. 20%).

Hispanic adults are also more likely than White adults to say a neighborhood clinic or health center is their usual source of care (33% vs. 16%). The shares relying on a clinic or health center as their usual source of care are even higher among lawful permanent resident (42%) and potentially undocumented (40%) Hispanic adults. In contrast, Hispanic adults are less likely than White adults to say their usual source of care is a private doctor’s office (34% vs. 64%). The share saying a clinic is their usual source of care is similar for both uninsured (36%) and insured (33%) nonelderly Hispanic adults, but those who are uninsured are less likely to say they use a private doctor’s office as their usual source of care than their insured counterparts (22% vs. 38%).

Access to and Affordability of Care

About one in five (21%) Hispanic adults say it is somewhat or very difficult to get to a location for health care versus 12% of White adults (Figure 6). The remaining nearly eight in ten Hispanic adults (78%) say it is very or somewhat easy to find health care at a location that is easy to get to, compared to 86% of White adults. Less than half of Hispanic adults say it is very easy (46%) compared to 62% of White adults. Among Hispanic adults, those who are foreign-born are less likely to say it is very easy to get to a location for health care, with 39% of lawful permanent residents and 35% of potentially undocumented adults saying it is very easy compared to 53% of those who are U.S.-born. Similarly, among nonelderly Hispanic adults, those who are uninsured are less likely to say it is very easy (34%) compared to those with health insurance (50%). Nearly three in ten uninsured Hispanic adults (28%) say it is very or somewhat difficult to find care at a location that is easy to get to.

Overall, the share of Hispanic adults who say it is very or somewhat difficult to find health care they can afford is similar to the share of White adults (37% vs. 32%) (Figure 7). However, Hispanic adults are less likely than White adults to say it is very easy to find affordable care (29% vs. 42%). Further, among nonelderly Hispanic adults, those who are uninsured are twice as likely as those with insurance to say it is very difficult to find health care they can afford (24% vs. 12%). There are no major differences in the reported ease of finding affordable care by immigration status. The reliance on community health centers as a usual source of care by a high share of Hispanic adults may mitigate potential challenges finding affordable care among Hispanic adults even though they are more likely to be uninsured and have lower incomes than White adults, since health centers provide free or low-cost care regardless of insurance status. Other data also show that Hispanic adults are less likely to utilize care than their White counterparts.² 

Provider Communications and Linguistic Access to Care

Communication plays a key role in the delivery of health care and affects patient–provider relationships and the health care people receive. Studies have found that language barriers between providers and patients may result in excessive ordering of medical tests, lack of understanding of medication side effects and provider instructions, decreased use of primary care, increased use of the emergency department, and inadequate follow-up.

Some Hispanic adults, particularly those who are foreign born or uninsured, say it is difficult to find a doctor who explains things in a way that is easy to understand (Figure 8). Overall, three-quarters (74%) of Hispanic adults say it is very or somewhat easy to find a doctor who explains things in a way that is easy to understand, but nearly one-quarter (24%) say it is very or somewhat difficult, higher than the share of White adults (16%) and similar to the share of Black adults (23%). Foreign-born Hispanic adults are more likely than those born in the U.S. to say it is difficult to find a doctor who explains things in a way that is easy to understand, with 34% of potentially undocumented adults and 31% of lawful permanent resident adults saying it is somewhat or very difficult compared to 16% of those who are U.S.-born. Having a usual source of care also makes a difference in the ability to find a doctor who explains things in a way that is easy to understand, as Hispanic adults without a usual source of care are more likely to report it is somewhat or very difficult than those with one (30% vs. 21%). There are no significant differences in the share of nonelderly Hispanic adults who say it is difficult by insurance status, but those who are uninsured are less likely to say it is very or somewhat easy compared to those who are insured (65% vs 77%). Linguistic access to care is also a challenge for some Spanish-speaking adults. Among Hispanic adults who completed the survey in Spanish, one-third (33%) say it is very or somewhat difficult to find a doctor who speaks their preferred language or provides an interpreter when needed.

Experiences with Providers

Most Hispanic adults (83%) say it is very or somewhat easy to find a doctor who treats them with dignity and respect, similar to the share of White adults (84%) who say so (Figure 9). However, about one in four (24%) potentially undocumented Hispanic adults say it is somewhat or very difficult, compared to 14% of U.S. born Hispanic adults and 11% of lawful permanent residents. Among nonelderly Hispanic adults, there are no significant differences in reported ease of finding a doctor who treats them with dignity and respect by insurance status. However, among Hispanic adults overall, those without a usual source of care are more likely to say it is very/somewhat difficult compared to those with a usual source of care (20% vs. 12%).

Just over half (52%) of Hispanic adults say it is easy to find a doctor with shared background and experiences to them versus over two-thirds (67%) of White adults (Figure 10). The share who say it is very or somewhat easy to find a doctor with shared background and experiences falls to 42% among potentially undocumented Hispanic adults compared to 56% of those who are U.S. born. Similar differences are observed among Hispanic adults based on whether they have a usual source of care, with 42% of those without a usual source of care saying it is very or somewhat easy compared to 56% of those with a usual source of care. Ease of finding a doctor with the same background and experiences does not vary by insurance status among nonelderly Hispanic adults.

Implications

Overall, these findings show that, consistent with research from prior to the pandemic, Hispanic adults are more likely to be uninsured than their White counterparts. They also are less likely to have a usual source of care other than an emergency room and to rely on community health centers as their source of care. Further, they are more likely than their White counterparts to say it is difficult to get to a location for health care. The findings further show that these access challenges generally are amplified among Hispanic adults who are foreign-born and uninsured. Beyond increased barriers to accessing care, the findings also highlight some challenges communicating with providers among Hispanic adults, particularly among those who are foreign-born and those without a usual source of care. These challenges include increased difficulty finding a doctor who explains things in a way that is easy to understand, finding a doctor with shared background and experiences, and linguistic access challenges for Spanish-speaking adults.

Despite having a higher uninsured rate and being less likely to have a usual source of care, Hispanic adults are not more likely than White adults say it is difficult to find affordable care. This finding may, in part, reflect the primary role community health centers play as a source of care among Hispanic adults. Community health centers provide comprehensive primary care as well as supportive services such as health education, translation, and transportation to patients who are disproportionately low-income, people of color, uninsured, or publicly insured. They provide these services regardless of patients’ ability to pay or immigration status and charge for services on a sliding fee scale. As such, health centers facilitate access to affordable, culturally and linguistically competent care and can help mitigate challenges to accessing care. This finding may also reflect that Hispanic adults are less likely than their White counterparts to utilize care. For example, other federal survey data show that a quarter of Hispanic adults have not seen a doctor in the past year, compared to less than one in five White adults.³ 

The overall findings on Hispanic adults’ reported experiences and perceptions of care may reflect certain cultural norms, including an emphasis on politeness and conflict avoidance, and variations in expectations and experiences with the U.S. health care system. For example, research suggests that Hispanic people may give higher ratings to physicians and health plans despite worse health care experiences due to a cultural disposition to be deferential to those who are presumed to be of higher status. Moreover, immigrants may have lower expectations of the healthcare system based on prior experiences with health care in their countries of origin and less experience interacting with the U.S. health care system. Similarly, uninsured individuals’ reported experiences and perceptions of health care and health care system may reflect less interaction with the health care system.

Together these findings highlight the importance of addressing disparities in coverage, access to care, as well as in patient-provider communications for improving health and well-being of Hispanic adults. Further, they highlight the variation of experiences and needs within the Hispanic population which can help inform these efforts going forward. Addressing disparities in health and health care among the Hispanic population is of increasing importance given their growing share of the nation’s population and that they have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. The survey used questions to determine the likely immigration status of respondents by asking those who were born outside the U.S. whether they were a permanent resident (i.e. had a green card) when they came to the U.S. or if their status had been changed to permanent resident since arriving. In the current survey, 18 percent of Hispanic adults said they have not been granted permanent resident status, indicating that they are likely to be undocumented immigrants, although this group may also include a small number of temporary lawful residents. ↩︎
2. KFF analysis of 2019 National Health Interview Survey Data ↩︎
3. Ibid. ↩︎

The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is an ongoing research project tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. Using a combination of surveys and qualitative research, this project tracks the dynamic nature of public opinion as vaccine development and distribution unfold, including vaccine confidence and hesitancy, trusted messengers and messages, as well as the public’s experiences with vaccination.

Key Findings

At the beginning of 2021 as vaccine distribution began in the U.S., KFF conducted interviews with a nationally representative sample of adults using open-ended questions to better understand public concerns around receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Six months later, we recontacted these individuals to find out whether they chose to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, their reasoning behind their decisions, and how they are feeling about their choice.

• The vast majority (92%) of those who planned to get vaccinated “as soon as possible” in early 2021 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as have slightly more than half (54%) of individuals who had previously said they wanted to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated. On the other hand, a majority (76%) of people who had previously said they would “only get vaccinated if required” or said they would “definitely not” get a COVID-19 vaccine remain unvaccinated.
• One-fifth of adults (21%) now report being vaccinated after saying in January they planned on waiting to get vaccinated, would only get it if required, or would definitely not get vaccinated. Many of these individuals noted the role of their friends and family members as well as their personal doctors in persuading them to get a vaccine. Seeing their friends and family members get vaccinated without serious side effects, talking to family members about being able to safely visit, and conversations with their personal doctors about their own risks were all persuasive factors for these individuals. A small but meaningful share also say the easing of restrictions for vaccinated people was a factor in their decision to get a vaccine.
• When asked to name the feeling that best describes how they feel now that they have been vaccinated, nearly a quarter of vaccinated adults offer responses around feeling safe (24%) and relieved (22%). Other positive feelings reported were freedom, confidence, and more certainty that if they did get COVID-19 it would be less serious or they were less likely to die from it. And while most respondents react with some positive emotion, one in ten said they felt the same or neutral. This feeling was more common among those who initially said they would “wait and see” in January or who said they would only get vaccinated if required or would not get vaccinated.
• Conversations with family members and friends have played a major role in persuading people to get vaccinated. Two-thirds of vaccinated adults say they have tried to persuade their friends and family members to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and 17% of adults who are now vaccinated after saying in January they planned on waiting to get vaccinated, would only get it if required, or would definitely not get vaccinated, say they were persuaded to do so by a family member and 5% say they were persuaded by a friend. In addition to this, others cite protecting friends and family members as the main reason for getting vaccinated and others offer being able to see their friends and family members as well as family pressure or encouragement as the main reasons why they chose to receive a vaccine.
• About one-fourth of those who previously said they planned on getting vaccinated “as soon as possible” or were wanting to “wait and see” before getting a vaccine, remain unvaccinated six months later. Some of these individuals either have an appointment to get a vaccine or still plan on getting it as soon as they are able, but one in ten (6% of total) now say they either will “only get vaccinated if required” or say they will “definitely not” get a vaccine. When asked what changed their mind, many offer concerns about the side effects of the vaccine as the reasons why they now do not plan on getting vaccinated.
• Being concerned about side effects is the top reason offered by unvaccinated people for why they haven’t gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. When asked what would motivate them to get vaccinated against COVID-19, most in the “wait and see” group say they just want more time to see how the vaccine affects others who have already gotten it.

Vaccine Behavior Largely Matches Previous Intentions

Nine in ten (92%) of those who said back in January 2021 they would get vaccinated as soon as they were able now report, six months later, that they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, slightly more than half (54%) of those who were in the “wait and see” group back in January, say they have received a COVID-19 vaccine while 46% of adults in this group report not being vaccinated against COVID-19. A smaller share, one-fourth (24%) of those who said they would “only get vaccinated if required” or they would “definitely not” get vaccinated now report receiving at least one dose, while the majority (76%) of adults in this group say they remain unvaccinated.

Three-fourths (72%) of the most vaccine enthusiastic group (those who said they would get vaccinated as soon as they could back in January) say they received a COVID-19 vaccine more than two months ago, compared to a majority of vaccinated adults from the “wait and see” group who say they received their vaccine either less than one month ago (10%) or between one and two months ago (46%).

Overall nearly half of adults either were already vaccinated in January (8%) or had said they planned to get vaccinated as soon as possible and have now received at least one dose (39%). An additional one in five adults (21%) are now vaccinated after saying in January they planned on waiting to get vaccinated, would only get it if required, or would definitely not get vaccinated. One-third of adults remain unvaccinated after either planning to get it as soon as possible or were going to wait and see back in January (17%) or had said they were only going to get vaccinated if required or were definitely not getting a COVID-19 vaccine (16%).

What Made Some People Decide to Get vaccinated?

When the 21% of adults who are now vaccinated after saying in January they planned on waiting to get vaccinated, would only get it if required, or would definitely not get vaccinated are asked in their own words what they learned or heard that persuaded them to get vaccinated, many discussed the role of their friends and family members as well as their personal doctors in their decision.

A common response mentioned by one-fourth of these individuals was that seeing others, especially friends and family, get vaccinated without side effects made them decide to get a vaccine.

Others said they chose to get vaccinated either due to pressure from friends and family (8%), or they wanted to be able to safely visit with their friends and family members (3%).

Another common response was that conversations with their doctors or health providers encouraged them to get vaccinated (11%).

Half (52%) of those who were initially vaccine hesitant or resistant (saying in January they planned on waiting to get vaccinated, would only get it if required, or would definitely not get vaccinated) and have now received a COVID-19 vaccine say they heard or read something that persuaded them and more than one-third (36%) say they spoke with someone who persuaded them to get vaccinated.

Most commonly, people reported talking to and being persuaded by a family member (17% of all previously vaccine hesitant or resistant individuals) or their own doctor or health care provider (10%), followed by a close friend (5%) or a co-worker or classmate (2%).

Many of those who said they were persuaded after talking to their own doctor mentioned their doctor encouraging them due to their own or a family member’s medical condition.

A small but meaningful share said the easing of restrictions for vaccinated people made them decide to get a vaccine.

Two-thirds (65%) of vaccinated adults, including many of those who were previously vaccine hesitant, say they have tried to persuade close friends or family members to get vaccinated.

What Made Some People Decide to Not Get vaccinated?

One-third of adults remain unvaccinated, including a quarter of adults who previously had said they planned on getting vaccinated “as soon as possible” or wanted to “wait and see” before getting a vaccine and remain unvaccinated six months later. Some of these individuals (3%) either have an appointment to get a vaccine or still plan on getting it as soon as they are able, but one in ten (6% of total) now say they either will only get vaccinated if required or say they will “definitely not” get a vaccine.

When asked what changed their mind, many of these individuals offer concerns about the side effects of the vaccine as the reason why they now do not plan on getting vaccinated.

For some, others’ views of the pandemic influenced their decisions to not get vaccinated, with several people offering responses about the pandemic being exaggerated and no longer feeling that a vaccine was necessary.

The Experiences Of Vaccinated Adults

When adults who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were asked how they feel now they have been vaccinated, the most common responses were about feeling safe and relieved. One-fourth (24%) of vaccinated adults say they felt “safe” or some variation after being vaccinated, with a similar share (22%) offering responses that they felt relieved. Other positive feelings reported were those of freedom, confidence, and more certainty that if they did get COVID-19, it would be less serious, or they were less likely to die from it.

While most respondents reacted with some positive emotion, another one in ten said they felt the same or neutral. Others offered responses about not experiencing any or only mild side effects as a result of the vaccinations, while some were excited about the “return to normal.” A much smaller share expressed a negative emotion (about 1% of vaccinated adults).

Those who initially said they would “wait and see” in January were less likely than those most enthusiastic about the vaccine (“as soon as possible” in January) to say they felt relief (14% vs. 29%), and more likely to express feeling the same or neutral about getting vaccinated (19% vs. 5%).

More than a quarter of vaccinated adults say the main reason they chose to get vaccinated was to protect themselves or reduce their own risk (27%), while another 16% mentioned they were afraid of getting COVID-19 and wanted to avoid getting sick. One in ten respondents cited being at risk of getting sick due to their age or other health condition as their reason for getting vaccinated. Others wanted to protect their family members (7%) or protect others around them and help with herd immunity (6%).

Those who previously had said they were going to “wait and see” offer similar reasons for getting vaccinated as the vaccine enthusiastic group but were slightly less likely to say they got vaccinated to protect themselves (21% vs. 33%), and slightly larger shares offer reasons related to not having to wear a mask anymore (5% vs. 0%) and because of encouragement or pressure from family members (6% vs. 1%).

One of the most common responses among the more vaccine resistant group who have received a vaccine were about getting vaccinated in order to travel or being required to due to a job.

Why Some Adults Remain Unvaccinated

When those who remain unvaccinated were asked about their main reason for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine, the most commonly offered reasons are around concerns about side effects (21%), followed by concerns that the vaccine was too new, too unknown, or not tested enough (16%). One in ten (12%) offer they haven’t gotten vaccinated because they don’t think they need the vaccine. Smaller, but still significant shares, say they haven’t gotten vaccinated because they just want to wait and see (7%), they don’t trust the vaccine and don’t normally get vaccines (7%), have a medical condition which prevents them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine (7%), or think COVID-19 is not that bad or that the vaccine is worse (7%).

Being concerned about side effects was also the top reason back in January why people said they may not get vaccinated. The latest report finds one-fifth of unvaccinated adults still offer concerns over possible side effects as the main reason why they haven’t gotten a COVID-19 vaccine.

Another one of the most commonly offered reason for not getting vaccinated were concerns that the vaccine was too new, too unknown, or not tested enough. This was one of the top reasons offered across vaccine intention groups.

Some unvaccinated people say they don’t see the benefit of getting vaccinated either because they do not think they are at risk of getting sick from the virus, or that they already had COVID-19.

many unvaccinated Adults Just Want to Wait and See

As millions of adults in the U.S. have received a COVID-19 vaccine and access to vaccines has increased throughout the country, the share of adults who say they either will get vaccinated “as soon as possible” or want to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated has decreased to about one in eight adults. Few adults (9%) say they are now “more motivated” to get vaccinated than they were six months ago while most (65% of all unvaccinated adults and 60% of those in the “wait and see” group from January) say they have the same level of motivation now to get vaccinated as they did six months ago. About a quarter across groups say they are “less motivated” to get vaccinated than they were six months ago.

Among those who are still unvaccinated but are not resistant to getting vaccinated (now say they either plan to get it ASAP or are wanting to wait and see), about four in ten say they plan on waiting more than a year before getting a COVID-19 vaccine, while about three in ten (28%) say they plan on getting vaccinated within the next three months and an additional third say they will get vaccinated between 4 months and a year. Many adults in this group (unvaccinated adults who say they either plan to get it ASAP or are wanting to wait and see) offer side effects as the main reason why they have not gotten vaccinated yet.

When those who say they want to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated are asked what, if anything, would motivate them to get vaccinated against COVID-19, few tangible motivations are mentioned. Most of these individuals say they just want more time to see how the vaccine affects others who have already gotten it. A few individuals explicitly mention wanting full FDA approval, a motivation found in previous KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor reports.

This KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: In Their Own Words, Six Months Later was designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The survey was conducted June 15-23, 2021 using the SSRS Opinion Panel, a nationally representative panel of U.S. adults age 18 or older recruited using probability-based sampling techniques. For the Kaiser Family Foundation, SSRS re-invited adult panelists in the U.S. who previously participated in a survey in January 14-18, 2021. The original sampling targeted panel respondents by gender, age, race, education, and region. SSRS regularly monitored data collection to check for demographic composition of the sample and data quality. Cases determined to be poor-quality, as defined by surveys with a length of interview of less than 33% of the mean length of interview and with invalid text responses were removed from the final data. In total, 1,009 panelists were invited to participate in this follow-up survey and 878 respondents completed the full questionnaire online on June 15-23, 2021 with additional follow-ups conducted on July 2,2021. 859 surveys were completed in English and 19 surveys were completed in Spanish. Panelists were compensated for their participation, with incentives distributed by the SSRS Opinion Panel through their standard procedures.

The margin of sampling error including the design effect for the full sample is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Numbers of respondents and margins of sampling error for key subgroups are shown in the table below. For results based on other subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher. Sample sizes and margins of sampling error for other subgroups are available by request. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Kaiser Family Foundation public opinion and survey research is a charter member of the Transparency Initiative of the American Association for Public Opinion Research.

The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is an ongoing research project tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. Using a combination of surveys and qualitative research, this project tracks the dynamic nature of public opinion as vaccine development and distribution unfold, including vaccine confidence and acceptance, information needs, trusted messengers and messages, as well as the public’s experiences with vaccination.

Key Findings

• Reflecting other data indicating a slowdown in U.S. COVID-19 vaccination rates, the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor finds that nearly two-thirds of adults (65%) have received at least one vaccine dose, with only a small share (3%) saying they intend to get the vaccine as soon as they can. While vaccine intentions vary by party, race, ethnicity, age, and other demographics, at least half across most demographic groups now report being vaccinated, with the exception of those who lack health insurance, 48% of whom say they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• In a new measure, we find that most adults live in homogenous households when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination status, with three-quarters (77%) of vaccinated adults saying everyone in their household is vaccinated and a similar share (75%) of unvaccinated adults saying no one they live with is vaccinated. Overall, half of adults report living in vaccinated households and one in four live in fully unvaccinated households. The remainder, about one in five adults, live in households with both vaccinated and unvaccinated household members including some households with children under the age of 12 who are not currently eligible to receive a vaccine. Notably, two-thirds of Democrats report living in all-vaccinated households while four in ten Republicans (39%) report living in all-unvaccinated homes.
• With COVID-19 case rates at record lows and much of the country re-opening, most adults (76%) are optimistic that the U.S. is nearing the end of the pandemic. However, this optimism has the potential to hamper further vaccination efforts, with half of unvaccinated adults saying that the number of cases is now so low there is no need for more people to get the vaccine.
• Consistent with last month’s results, three in ten unvaccinated adults, rising to about half of those in the “wait and see” group, say they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines currently authorized for emergency use were to receive full approval from the FDA. However, this finding likely suggests that FDA approval is a proxy for general safety concerns, as two-thirds of adults (including a large majority of unvaccinated adults) either believe the vaccines currently available in the U.S. already have full approval from the FDA or are unsure whether they have full approval or are authorized for emergency use. In terms of other incentives and interventions, a million dollar lottery could motivate about a quarter of the unvaccinated to get a shot, while mobile vaccine clinics motivate about one in six overall, but notably higher shares of Black and Hispanic adults, suggesting such outreach could help further reduce racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination rates.
• Two-thirds of employed adults say their employer has encouraged workers to get vaccinated and half say their employer provided them paid time off to get the vaccine or recover from side effects. Notably, workers who say their employer did either one of these things are more likely to report being vaccinated, even after controlling for other demographics, suggesting that more employers encouraging vaccination and offering paid time off could lead to higher vaccination rates among U.S. workers.
• While half the public overall say employers should require their workers to get vaccinated, most workers do not want their own employer to require vaccination, including the vast majority of unvaccinated workers (92%) as well as four in ten workers who are already vaccinated (42%).  About four in ten adults say employers should provide cash bonuses or other incentives to workers who get vaccinated, but just 12% of workers say their own employer has offered such an incentive.
• Reported vaccination rates continue to increase among children ages 12-17, with one-third of parents of children in this age range saying their child has received at least one vaccine dose, up from 24% in May. However, many parents are still waiting and one-quarter say they will “definitely not” vaccinate their child. Similar to employer requirements, about half the public overall supports K-12 schools requiring COVID-19 vaccination, but most parents are opposed, with divisions along partisan lines. A somewhat larger share of the public (58%) says colleges and universities should require students to be vaccinated, including 58% of those who say they are currently undergraduate or graduate students.

Trends In COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions And Uptake

Reflecting other data indicating a slowdown in U.S. COVID-19 vaccination rates, the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor reports that about two-thirds of adults (65%) now say they have received at least one dose of a vaccine, up only slightly from May (62%). An additional 3% of adults say they intend to get the vaccine as soon as possible. One in ten adults say they want to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated, trending downward over time but statistically similar to the share that said the same last month (12%). The shares of adults who are more reluctant to get the COVID-19 have remained relatively unchanged since January, with about one in five saying they either will get a vaccine “only if required” for work or other activities (6%) or will “definitely not” get vaccinated (14%).

Among those who say they want to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated, a critical group to efforts to increase the adults vaccination rate, about a quarter (3% of all adults) say they plan to get vaccinated within the next three months. Notably, four in ten adults (37%) in the “wait and see” group say they are likely to wait more than a year before getting vaccinated.

Demographic patterns in vaccine uptake and intentions are similar to those measured in previous surveys, with large majorities of older adults, those with serious health conditions, college graduates, and Democrats saying they have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Black and Hispanic adults along with younger adults remain somewhat more likely than their counterparts to say they will “wait and see” before getting vaccinated, while Republicans, rural residents, and White Evangelical Christians continue to be disproportionately more likely to say they will definitely not get vaccinated.

While younger adults remain less likely to report being vaccinated, the largest increases in self-reported vaccination between May and June were among those ages 18-29 (from 48% to 55%) and those ages 30-49 (from 51% to 59%).

There remains a large gap in vaccine uptake across education, with about eight in ten college graduates (79%) saying they have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to about six in ten adults without a degree who say the same (59%). There is also a large gap among adults under age 65 by insurance status, with 62% of insured adults reporting receiving at least one dose compared to about half (48%) of uninsured adults. Notably, however, with the exception of individuals without health insurance, at least half of adults across all demographic subgroups say they have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

A gender gap in vaccine uptake has emerged over the past several months, and women are now 9 percentage points more likely to report being vaccinated than men (70% vs. 61%), and a larger share of men than women say they will “definitely not” get the vaccine (17% vs. 11%). This difference appears to largely reflect differences in partisan identification between men and women, with 43% of men identifying as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents compared to 27% of women. In fact, self-reported vaccination rates are similar by partisanship across genders with half of Republicans and Republican-leaning men and women reporting receiving at least one dose  (50% of men and 52% of women) compared to eight in ten Democratic men and women (78% of men and 82% of women).

Vaccination Status of Households

This month’s Monitor finds that most U.S. households are homogeneous when it comes to their COVID-19 vaccination status. Half of adults report living in a vaccinated household (those in which every household member has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine) while one in four live in fully unvaccinated households (those in which no household member has been vaccinated) and about one in five live in a household with both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Across partisans, two-thirds of Democrats say they live in a fully vaccinated household while nearly four in ten Republicans (37%) say they live in a fully unvaccinated household.

Three in four vaccinated adults (77%) say they live in fully vaccinated households while a similar share of unvaccinated adults (75%) say everyone in their household is unvaccinated. Among vaccinated adults living in a mixed-status household, one-third (34%) say all the unvaccinated members of their household are under age 12 and therefore ineligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, while the majority (65%) say at least one of their unvaccinated household members is age 12 or over and therefore eligible to get vaccinated.

How Optimism About The Pandemic’s End May Affect Vaccination Efforts

With COVID-19 cases at their lowest point since testing became widely available, and as the nation continues to open up with increased travel, large public events returning, and mask mandates being rescinded, about three-quarters of the public (76%) say they are optimistic that the U.S. is nearing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccinated adults are somewhat more likely than those who are unvaccinated to express optimism, though large shares of both groups are optimistic (78% vs. 70%).

Public optimism about the end of the pandemic has the potential to hinder further vaccination efforts if low case rates decrease people’s sense of risk and therefore decrease their sense of urgency about getting vaccinated. The latest Monitor finds some evidence that this may be happening to a certain extent among unvaccinated adults. Overall, 73% of the public feels that “more people need to get the vaccine to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” while 22% say the number of cases “is so low that there is no need for more people to get the vaccine.” While the vast majority (91%) of vaccinated adults say that more people need to get vaccinated, half of unvaccinated adults say cases are so low that additional vaccinations are not necessary. This includes 43% in the potentially convertible “wait and see” group as well as two-thirds of those who say they will “definitely not” get the vaccine.

Concerns about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines against new coronavirus variants could also deter some from getting vaccinated. Nearly half of unvaccinated adults, including six in ten of those in the “wait and see” group say they are worried that the currently available COVID-19 vaccines might not be effective against new strains of coronavirus.

Reasons Why Some Adults Remain Unvaccinated

Unvaccinated adults cite a variety of reasons why they have not gotten a COVID-19 vaccine, with half citing worries about side effects and the newness of the vaccine as major reasons (53% each). Other major reasons include just not wanting to get the vaccine (43%), not trusting the government (38%), thinking they do not need the vaccine (38%), not believing the COVID-19 vaccines are safe (37%), and not trusting vaccines in general (26%). Fewer cite as major reasons that they have a medical reason for not getting vaccinated (14%), they are too busy or have not had the time to get it (12%), they don’t like getting shots (12%), they are worried about missing work (7%), they would have difficulty traveling to a vaccination site (6%), they are worried about having to pay (5%), or they are not sure how or where to get the vaccine (5%).

When unvaccinated adults are asked to choose the main reason they have not yet gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, one in five cite the newness of the vaccine, followed by 11% each who say the main reason is that they are worried about side effects, they don’t trust the government, they don’t think they need the vaccine, and they just don’t want to get the vaccine.

Reasons for not getting vaccinated differ between those in the “wait and see” group and those who say they will “definitely not” get vaccinated, as well as between unvaccinated adults with different partisan identities and those from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. While the newness of the vaccine and worries about side effects are prominent across groups, the vaccine’s newness is cited as a major reason by a larger share of those in the “wait and see” group compared to the “definitely not” group (67% vs. 52%). By contrast, those in the “definitely not” group are much more likely than those in the “wait and see” group to say they just don’t want to get the vaccine (63% vs. 25%), they don’t trust the government (55% vs. 29%), they don’t think they need the vaccine (54% vs. 21%), and that they don’t believe the vaccines are safe (50% vs. 31%).

When asked to choose the main reason they haven’t gotten vaccinated, the top two answers among the “wait and see” group are that the vaccine is too new (38%) and that they are worried about side effects (18%); among the “definitely not” group, the top reasons are they don’t trust the government (19%) and they just don’t want to get vaccinated (12%).

Consistent with previous research, unvaccinated Hispanic and Black adults are more likely than White adults to cite worries about missing work and having to pay for the vaccine as major reasons for not being vaccinated. In addition, unvaccinated Hispanic adults are more likely than unvaccinated White adults to say they are too busy, would have difficulty traveling to a vaccination site, or are not sure how or where to get the vaccine.

By partisanship, larger shares of unvaccinated Republicans than Democrats say they don’t want or need the vaccine, they don’t trust the government, or don’t believe the vaccines are safe. Larger shares of unvaccinated Democrats than Republicans say they are too busy, don’t like getting shots, or are worried about missing work.

What Might Increase Vaccination Rates?

The May KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor found that if the FDA were to give full approval to one of the COVID-19 vaccines, it could move some unvaccinated adults to get the vaccine. Findings were similar this month with 31% of unvaccinated adults saying they would be more likely to get a vaccine if one of the vaccines currently authorized for emergency use received full approval by the FDA, rising to nearly half of those in the “wait and see” group.

However, this reported increased likelihood does not necessarily reflect a nuanced understanding of the FDA approval process among unvaccinated adults and may be a proxy for more general concerns about safety. Two-thirds of the public either are unsure if the FDA has given full approval of the COVID-19 vaccines (45%) or think it has done so (21%), while just a third (32%) know that the vaccines have only been authorized for emergency use. Among unvaccinated adults, a majority (57%) say they are unsure whether the FDA had granted full approval or only emergency use authorization to the COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S.

Among unvaccinated adults who are aware that the vaccines are available under emergency use authorization, a similar share as among all unvaccinated adults – 32% - say they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines were granted full approval by the FDA.

Over the past several months, we have been using the Vaccine Monitor surveys to test a number of potential incentives that may resonate with those who remain unvaccinated. Along with the 31% of unvaccinated adults who say they would be more likely to get the vaccine if the FDA granted full approval, the incentive tested in this month’s Monitor that appears to have the most resonance is a lottery with the chance to win one million dollars. About one in four (23%) of those who have not been vaccinated, including 31% of those who say they want to “wait and see,” say they would be more likely to get vaccinated if they were entered into a lottery with a chance to win one million dollars. Among the unvaccinated, about a third of adults ages 18 to 29 (33%), Black adults (34%), and those with a household income under $40,000 (31%) say being entered in a lottery would make them more likely to get the vaccine.

Incentives targeting vaccine access may also help increase vaccination rates and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in who is getting vaccinated. Seventeen percent of unvaccinated adults overall say they would be more likely to get vaccinated if a mobile vaccine clinic came to their neighborhood, a share that rises to nearly one-fourth of unvaccinated Black adults (22%) and one-third of Hispanic adults. In addition, 13% of unvaccinated parents say they would be more likely to get a vaccine if they were provided with free childcare while they get the vaccine and recover from side effects.

The Role of Employers in COVID-19 Vaccination

Workplace Vaccination Status And Feelings Of Safety

With businesses reopening across the country and many workplaces returning to in-person work, employers have a large role to play in providing worker with information about COVID-19 vaccines, encouraging them to get vaccinated, and making sure they can get vaccinated without losing pay. Among adults who are employed at least part-time, most (61%) now say they are working from a location outside their home, while one in five (19%) say they work solely from their home and another one in five (21%) say they work partially at home and partially at another location.

Although they may be at higher risk for exposure to coronavirus, those who work solely (54%) or partially (66%) outside their home are less likely to report receiving a COVID-19 vaccine compared to those who work solely from home (81%). Compared to those working from home, a larger share of those working solely outside their home say they will “wait and see” before getting vaccinated (15% vs. 4%) or that they will “definitely not” get the vaccine (18% vs. 8%). These differences are likely driven by other demographic factors, as those who work at home are more likely to be college-educated and to identify as Democrats compared to those who work outside their homes.

Just as many households are homogeneous in their vaccination status, the latest Vaccine Monitor finds that many workplaces are as well. Among those who work at least partially outside their home, one-third (34%) say that all or most of their coworkers have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and another quarter (27%) say about half of their coworkers have been vaccinated. Notably, about half (53%) of those who have been vaccinated themselves say that all or most of their coworkers have been vaccinated while a similar share (49%) of unvaccinated workers say just a few or none of their coworkers have received a vaccine. There is also a large education divide among those working outside the home, with about half (52%) of workers who are college graduates saying all or most of their coworkers have been vaccinated compared to one-quarter of workers without a college degree. Notably, about one in ten of those working outside their home overall say they don’t know what share of their coworkers have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Despite mixed workplace vaccination status, the vast majority of workers say they feel at least somewhat safe when it comes to their risk of exposure to coronavirus when working outside their home, including 58% who say they feel “very” safe and 34% who feel “somewhat” safe. Black and Hispanic workers are less likely to report feeling “very” safe working outside their home compared to White workers (40%, 45%, and 66%, respectively), as are lower-income workers compared to those with higher incomes (47% of those with household incomes less than $40,000 vs. 66% of those with incomes of $90,000 or more).

Among those who work outside their homes, a larger share of those who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine says they feel “very safe” compared to those who have received a vaccine (72% vs. 46%). This likely reflects the fact that those who have chosen not to get a COVID-19 vaccine are less likely to view the virus as a threat to their personal health. Among those who have been vaccinated, feelings of safety from exposure to the virus do not appear to be correlated with beliefs about coworkers’ vaccination status; about half of vaccinated workers say they feel “very safe” among those who say all or most of their coworkers have been vaccinated and among those who say half or fewer of their coworkers have gotten a vaccine.

The Role Of Employers In Encouraging Vaccinations

Among the different roles employers might play, we find the most common are providing information and encouraging vaccination. Seven in ten of those who work for an employer say their employer has provided them with information about how to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and two-thirds (65%) say their employer has encouraged employees to get vaccinated. A larger share of workers with college degrees compared to those without college degrees say their employer has provided information (77% vs. 66%) or encouraged employees to get vaccinated (78% vs. 57%). Notably, 72% say they trust their employer a great deal or a fair amount to provide reliable information about the vaccines.

Half of workers overall say their say their employer provides them with paid time off to get a COVID-19 vaccine and recover from any side effects, though this share is lower among Black workers (38%), those without college degrees (41%), and those with household incomes less than $40,000 annually (41%). Among workers who don’t have health insurance, just one-third (33%) say their employer provides paid time off for vaccine administration and side effects.

About one in ten workers say their employer offered a cash bonus or other incentive to employees who get vaccinated (12%) or required them to get a COVID-19 vaccine (9%). The share saying their employer offered cash or another incentive rises to 22% among Black employees and 16% among those in households earning between $40,000 and $89,999 annually. One in six workers with household incomes under $40,000 (17%) say their worker required them to get vaccinated compared to smaller shares of those in middle- and higher-income households (4% and 7%, respectively).

Workers who say their employer provided them with paid time off to get a COVID-19 vaccine and recover from side effects and those who say their employer encouraged vaccination are more likely to report receiving a COVID-19 vaccine compared to those whose employers have not taken these actions. Three-quarters of those who got paid time off say they’ve received at least one dose of the vaccine compared to about half (51%) of those who did not have this benefit. Similarly, 73% of those who say their employer encouraged vaccination report getting at least one dose compared to four in ten (41%) of those whose employer did not.

At least part of this difference may be due to differences in other demographic characteristics of those whose employers engaged in these activities compared to those who did not. However, using a statistical technique called multiple logistic regression, we find that employees who are encouraged by their employers to get vaccinated, or who are provided paid time off are more likely to get vaccinated, even after controlling for age, race, ethnicity, education, income, party identification, and other demographic characteristics that may impact vaccination uptake. This suggests that more employers encouraging vaccination and offering paid time off could lead to higher vaccination rates among employed adults in the U.S.

Views on Employer Requirements and Incentives

The public overall is divided in their views of employer requirements for COVID-19 vaccination, with about half (51%) saying employers should require employees to get vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption and a similar share (46%) saying they should not. Somewhat fewer support employers offering financial incentives, with four in ten (39%) saying employers should offer cash bonuses and other incentives to employees who get vaccinated and a majority (57%) saying employers should not do this.

On each of these questions, views diverge largely along partisan lines and by vaccination status. Three-quarters of Democrats (73%) support employers requiring COVID-19 vaccination compared to about half of independents (47%) and three in ten Republicans. Similarly, Democrats (52%) and independents (42%) are more likely than Republicans (21%) to say employers should offer incentives for vaccinated employees. Vaccinated adults are also more likely than unvaccinated adults to support employer requirements (68% vs. 19%) and financial incentives (45% vs. 29%).

Although about half the public overall supports employers requiring workers to get vaccinated, most of those who work for an employer say they do not want their own employer to require employees to get vaccinated (61%). About three in ten (28%) say they want their employer to require vaccination and another 9% say their employer already requires it. As among the public, views among workers diverge by partisanship and vaccination status. The vast majority of Republican workers (85%) and six in ten of those who identify as independents (62%) say they do not want their employer to require vaccination, while over half of Democrats say they want their employer to require it (46%) or that they already do (16%).

Not surprisingly, nine in ten (92%) unvaccinated workers don’t want their employer to require them and other employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. When unvaccinated workers are asked what they would do if their employer required them to get vaccinated to continue working, four in ten (42%) say they would get the vaccine and half say they would leave their job.

Vaccinated workers are split on the question of employer requirements, with roughly equal shares saying they do (43%) and do not (42%) want their employer to require vaccination and 13% saying it is already required. Notably, vaccinated workers’ views on employer vaccination requirements are similar regardless of whether they report working in a mostly-vaccinated or a mostly-unvaccinated workplace.

Views On COVID-19 Vaccines For Children And School Requirements

Parents’ Intentions for Vaccinating Children

About a month and a half after the FDA authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages 12 and older, the latest Monitor finds about four in ten (42%) parents of children ages 12-17 say their child has already received at least one dose of the vaccine (34%) or that they will get them vaccinated right away (8%). About one in five parents of adolescents say they will “wait a while to see how it is working” before getting their child vaccinated (18%), while one in ten say they will get their child vaccinated only if their school requires it and an additional one in four say they will “definitely not” get their 12-17 year-old vaccinated.

Since May, the share of parents who say their 12-17 year old child has been vaccinated has risen by about ten percentage points while the share who say they will get their child vaccinated “right away” has fallen by a similar amount. From May to June, the shares of parents who say they want to “wait a while to see how it is working,” will only get their child vaccinated if their school requires it, or will “definitely not” get their child vaccinated has remained about the same.

When those who say they want to wait and see before getting their 12-17 year-old child vaccinated are asked how long they think they will wait, responses are split. Seven percent of all parents of children ages 12-17 say they will wait three months or less, 4% say they will wait between four months and one year, and 7% say they plan to wait longer than one year to vaccinate their child.

Parents of younger children, for whom a COVID-19 vaccine is not yet authorized, remain more cautious in their approach to the vaccine. About one-quarter (27%) say they will get their child under age 12 vaccinated as soon as a vaccine is authorized for their age group, while one-third intend to wait a while to see how the vaccine is working. An additional 11% say they will vaccinate their young child only if school requires it and one-quarter (26%) say they will definitely not get them vaccinated. These shares are virtually unchanged from when this was first asked in May 2021.

Among parents of younger children, intentions for vaccinating children vary by parents’ own vaccination status, their ethnicity, and party identification. Among parents of children under age 12 who have received a vaccine themselves, about half (48%) say they will get their younger child a vaccine as soon as one is authorized for their age group compared to just 4% of parents who have not received a vaccine. By contrast, nearly half (48%) of unvaccinated parents say they will “definitely not” get their child under age 12 vaccinated compared to 7% of parents who have received the vaccine themselves. A similar pattern emerges by partisanship, as nearly half (45%) of Democrats and Democratic-leaning parents of children under age 12 say they will get their child vaccinated “right away,” and the same proportion (46%) of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they will “definitely not” get their young child vaccinated. While similar shares of Hispanic and White parents say they will vaccinate their child under age 12 as soon as a vaccine is authorized, a larger share of Hispanic parents than White parents say they will “wait and see” (47% vs. 25%) while a smaller share say they will “definitely not” get the vaccine for their child (12% vs. 32%). (The sample size of Black parents of younger children is too small to report separately.)

Recently, the CDC announced that it is investigating about 800 cases of rare heart problems and inflammation that have occurred in some teenagers and young adults after they received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC and many physician groups continue to strongly recommend vaccination for young people despite these rare cases.

Two-thirds of adults, rising to 74% of parents, say they have heard at least a little about these rare cases of heart problems in young people related to the vaccine. Among young adults ages 18-29, a somewhat smaller share (60%) say they’ve heard at least a little. Across age groups and parent status, few say they’ve heard “a lot” about these cases.

About four in ten adults overall, rising to half of parents of children under age 18, say they have heard about rare cases of heart problems among young adults and teenagers who have been recently vaccinated for COVID-19 and that they are very or somewhat concerned about these cases.

Parents of children ages 12-17 who have heard about and are concerned about heart problems linked to the COVID-19 vaccine in young people are notably more cautious about getting their children vaccinated compared to parents who say they are not concerned or have not heard about these cases. One-quarter (24%) of parents who express concern about these events say their child is already vaccinated compared to 45% of parents who haven’t heard or do not express concern.

Views on Schools Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations

The public overall is somewhat divided on whether schools should require students to get vaccinated for COVID-19. About half the public (52%) say K-12 schools should require students to get vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption while a similar share (45%) say they should not. Notably, parents of children under age 18 are less likely to say K-12 schools should require vaccination compared to adults who do not have minor children (37% vs. 57%). Among parents of children ages 12-17, for whom vaccines are currently authorized, 38% say that K-12 schools should require students to be vaccinated.

Overall public support is somewhat higher for colleges and universities requiring students to be vaccinated; 58% say they should, including 58% of those who are current undergraduate or graduate students at a college or university.

As is the case with employers requiring workers to be vaccinated, views on school requirements diverge largely along partisan lines and by vaccination status. Large majorities of Democrats support vaccination requirements by K-12 schools and universities compared to about half of independents and about a third of Republicans. At least seven in ten vaccinated adults support each type of requirement, compared to about one in five of those who have not been vaccinated.

Overall, six in ten (61%) parents of children under 18 say that K-12 schools should not require students to get vaccinated for COVID-19. However, similar to the partisan split among the general public on this question, parents are split on partisan lines. Nearly six in ten (58%) parents who identify as Democrats or lean that way say K-12 schools should require students to be vaccinated, while about eight in ten (79%) Republican-leaning parents say they should not require this.

Who Do People Trust For Reliable Information On COVID-19 Vaccines?

When asked who they trust to provide reliable information about the COVID-19 vaccines, personal doctors, including pediatricians, top the list, with 83% of adults saying they trust their own doctor a great deal or a fair amount and 85% of parents saying the same about their child’s pediatrician. Employers and health insurance companies also garner a high degree of trust, with 72% of workers saying they trust their employer and 73% of those with health insurance saying they trust their insurer to provide reliable vaccine information. About seven in ten each say they trust the CDC (71%), the FDA (69%), and their local public health department (69%). Somewhat fewer, but still more than half, trust President Joe Biden (58%), Dr. Anthony Fauci (57%), and their state government officials (56%). Levels of trust in most government sources of information has remained steady since this question was last asked in December 2020, but trust in Dr. Fauci has fallen somewhat, from 68% to 57%.

Among unvaccinated adults, majorities trust their own doctor, their child’s pediatrician, their health insurance company, and their employer for reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines, while trust in other sources is somewhat lower than among vaccinated adults. About half of unvaccinated adults say they trust the CDC, FDA, and their local health department, while about four in ten trust their state government officials and fewer trust President Biden (32%) or Dr. Fauci (27%). Trust in government sources of information is especially low among those who say they will “definitely not” get the vaccine.

This KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor was designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The survey was conducted June 8-21, 2021, among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,888 adults ages 18 and older (including interviews from 512 Hispanic adults and 497 non-Hispanic Black adults), living in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii (note: persons without a telephone could not be included in the random selection process). Phone numbers used for this study were randomly generated from cell phone and landline sampling frames, with an overlapping frame design, and disproportionate stratification aimed at reaching Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black respondents as well as those living in areas with high rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Stratification was based on incidence of the race/ethnicity subgroups and vaccine hesitancy within each frame. High hesitancy was defined as living in the top 25% of counties as far as the share of the population not intending to get vaccinated based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.  The sample also included 39 respondents reached by calling back respondents that had previously completed an interview on the KFF Tracking poll at least nine months ago. Another 309 interviews were completed with respondents who had previously completed an interview on the SSRS Omnibus poll (and other RDD polls) and identified as Hispanic (n = 142; including 78 in Spanish) or non-Hispanic Black (n=167). Computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted by landline (225) and cell phone (1,663, including 1,228 who had no landline telephone) were carried out in English and Spanish by SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. To efficiently obtain a sample of lower-income and non-White respondents, the sample also included an oversample of prepaid (pay-as-you-go) telephone numbers (25% of the cell phone sample consisted of prepaid numbers) Both the random digit dial landline and cell phone samples were provided by Marketing Systems Group (MSG). For the landline sample, respondents were selected by asking for the youngest adult male or female currently at home based on a random rotation. If no one of that gender was available, interviewers asked to speak with the youngest adult of the opposite gender. For the cell phone sample, interviews were conducted with the adult who answered the phone. KFF paid for all costs associated with the survey.

The combined landline and cell phone sample was weighted to balance the sample demographics to match estimates for the national population using data from the Census Bureau’s 2019 U.S. American Community Survey (ACS), on sex, age, education, race, Hispanic origin, and region, within race-groups, along with data from the 2010 Census on population density. The sample was also weighted to match current patterns of telephone use using data from the January- June 2020 National Health Interview Survey. The weight takes into account the fact that respondents with both a landline and cell phone have a higher probability of selection in the combined sample and also adjusts for the household size for the landline sample, and design modifications, namely the oversampling of prepaid cell phone numbers and areas with high incidence of Black or Hispanic residents or high levels of vaccine hesitancy, as well as the likelihood of non-response for the re-contacted sample. An additional weighting adjustment was made to account for survey break-off by COVID-19 vaccination status within each race/ethnicity group. All statistical tests of significance account for the effect of weighting.

The margin of sampling error including the design effect for the full sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Numbers of respondents and margins of sampling error for key subgroups are shown in the table below. For results based on other subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher. Sample sizes and margins of sampling error for other subgroups are available by request. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Kaiser Family Foundation public opinion and survey research is a charter member of the Transparency Initiative of the American Association for Public Opinion Research.

This work was supported in part by grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF (an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation), the Ford Foundation, and the Molina Family Foundation. We value our funders. KFF maintains full editorial control over all of its policy analysis, polling, and journalism activities.