COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Kansas Adults — Issue 5

2 Min Read

Mar 05, 2021

By

Emily Burgen, M.P.H.,

Wen-Chieh Lin, Ph.D.
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Key Points

    • As of mid-January 2021, fewer than one in 10 (8.4 percent) Kansas adults reported having received a COVID-19 vaccine. Another 45.0 percent reported they “would definitely get a vaccine.”
    • However, almost half (46.5 percent) of Kansas adults were uncertain about getting a vaccine, including a quarter (24.1 percent) who said they “would probably get a vaccine,” 14.1 percent who “would probably not get a vaccine” and 8.3 percent who “would definitely not get a vaccine.”
    • The most common reasons given by those uncertain about getting a vaccine where they plan to wait and see if it is safe (53.9 percent) and concern about possible side effects (49.1 percent).
    • The top reasons reported for hesitancy to get the vaccine differed in important ways among those who would probably, would probably not, and would definitely not get the vaccine.

With Kansas in Phase 2 of the state COVID-19 vaccine rollout, it is important to understand who has already been or intends to be vaccinated, who is uncertain about it, and the reasons that might prevent people from getting vaccinated. The Household Pulse Survey considers those who report they “would probably,” “would probably not” and “would definitely not” get a vaccine as “uncertain” about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This brief describes the self-reported intentions of Kansans about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and leading reasons for hesitancy in mid-January 2021. For the most up-to-date information on the number of Kansans who have received COVID-19 vaccines, please refer to the KDHE website.


Figure 1 Vaccine intent among Kansas Adults

Figure 2 Leading reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among those uncertain about getting vaccine

Estimated Kansas adults who were uncertain about getting the vaccine

Figure 3 Reasons for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Conclusions

As COVID-19 vaccine efforts continue and more vaccine doses become available, Kansas will move to new phases in which more people are eligible to receive the vaccine. This analysis shows that a sizable group of adults in Kansas remains hesitant to receive the vaccine. Understanding the nature of concerns people have about the COVID-19 vaccines is an important step in addressing uncertainty and helping people make an informed decision. For public health professionals, targeted messaging addressing the specific reasons for hesitancy among different groups will be important.

The Household Pulse Survey is an ongoing federal survey that provides policy makers with valuable near real-time information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas and across the United States. This valuable resource allows for a deeper, data-driven understanding of the impact that the pandemic is having on our communities. This Pulse on Kansas is one in a series focusing on the economic, social and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas.

About Kansas Health Institute

The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

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