Among the findings of a new poll about why Americans are hesitant to get the COVID vaccine:
- Vaccine hesitancy has dropped from 27.5% in January of this year to 22% in March.
- Nearly 40% of those who say they are hesitant expressed concerns about side effects.
- More than one-third say they don’t think they need the shot, don’t trust the government, are waiting to see if the vaccine is safe, or don’t trust the COVID-19 vaccine specifically.
- 14% of respondents say they don’t like vaccines in general.
- Occupation seems to influence hesitancy. Nearly half (46%) of construction workers say they are hesitant. Reluctance is nearly as high among workers in installation, maintenance, repair, farming, fishing, and forestry. Hesitancy was lowest among some health care professionals such as pharmacists (8.5%) and educators (9.6%).
- Hesitancy among medical assistance and home health, nursing, psychiatric, or personal-care aides is about 20%.
