Special Report
States Where the Most People Are Refusing the COVID-19 Vaccine
Published:
Recent surges of the delta variant in much of the United States are attributable part to vaccine hesitancy.
According to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 24,260,000 Americans — or 9.7% of the 18 and older population — say they will either probably or definitely not agree to receive the vaccination.
The share of Americans who will likely refuse vaccination varies considerably nationwide, from as many as 21.7% of the adult population to as little as 3.9%, depending on the state. States where the largest shares of adults are open to taking the vaccine are concentrated in the Northeast.
Many Americans who have yet to be vaccinated cite one of three reasons: either they are concerned about possible side effects, or they want to wait to see if it is safe, or it is difficult for them to obtain a vaccination. Others cite different reasons.
Nationwide, 17,040,000 people, 6.8% of the adult population, do not trust the COVID-19 vaccines, and another 7,350,000, or 2.9%, do not think COVID-19 is a big threat. Additionally, 14,070,000 American adults, or 5.6% of the 18 and older population, have not been vaccinated because they do not trust the government.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 42,966,938 confirmed cases of the virus and a total of 688,099 Americans have died as a result.
So far, 184,601,450 Americans — or 56.4% of the total population — have received the full course of vaccinations necessary to protect against COVID-19.
All survey data used in this story was published by the Census on Sept. 22, 2021. All data related to COVID-19 infections, fatalities, and vaccinations is current as of Sept. 30, 2021.
Alabama
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 505,177 (13.6% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,089,852 (42.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,260 per 100,000 people (total: 794,773)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 291 per 100,000 people (total: 14,200)
Alaska
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 57,669 (11.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 370,114 (50.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 14,596 per 100,000 people (total: 107,640)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 73 per 100,000 people (total: 542)
Arizona
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 662,092 (11.8% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,718,393 (51.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 15,163 per 100,000 people (total: 1,087,451)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 278 per 100,000 people (total: 19,920)
Arkansas
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 347,821 (15.5% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,375,964 (45.7% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,388 per 100,000 people (total: 493,920)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 254 per 100,000 people (total: 7,651)
California
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 1,995,095 (6.7% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 23,302,641 (58.9% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,834 per 100,000 people (total: 4,681,332)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 173 per 100,000 people (total: 68,387)
Colorado
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 468,813 (10.5% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,419,720 (60.0% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,717 per 100,000 people (total: 667,366)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 132 per 100,000 people (total: 7,522)
Connecticut
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 107,609 (3.9% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,449,489 (68.6% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 10,909 per 100,000 people (total: 389,730)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 241 per 100,000 people (total: 8,626)
Delaware
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 55,702 (7.4% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 561,269 (58.0% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,662 per 100,000 people (total: 132,138)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 202 per 100,000 people (total: 1,950)
Florida
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 1,876,043 (11.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 12,301,042 (57.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,742 per 100,000 people (total: 3,565,971)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 254 per 100,000 people (total: 54,071)
Georgia
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 964,049 (12.1% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 4,823,331 (45.9% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 14,919 per 100,000 people (total: 1,569,405)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 245 per 100,000 people (total: 25,757)
Hawaii
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 88,731 (8.3% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 819,498 (57.7% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 5,367 per 100,000 people (total: 76,243)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 53 per 100,000 people (total: 752)
Idaho
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 200,862 (15.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 743,735 (42.4% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 14,464 per 100,000 people (total: 253,733)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 161 per 100,000 people (total: 2,830)
Illinois
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 930,902 (9.8% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 6,780,671 (53.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 12,724 per 100,000 people (total: 1,621,175)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 216 per 100,000 people (total: 27,568)
Indiana
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 664,416 (13.2% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,256,806 (48.7% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 14,294 per 100,000 people (total: 956,548)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 233 per 100,000 people (total: 15,561)
Iowa
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 340,585 (14.5% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,702,842 (54.0% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 14,305 per 100,000 people (total: 451,492)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 205 per 100,000 people (total: 6,482)
These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Kansas
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 248,538 (11.6% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,490,136 (51.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,960 per 100,000 people (total: 406,453)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 207 per 100,000 people (total: 6,024)
Kentucky
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 301,541 (9.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,337,940 (52.3% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 15,330 per 100,000 people (total: 684,989)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 193 per 100,000 people (total: 8,635)
Louisiana
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 491,595 (14.3% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,111,741 (45.3% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 15,850 per 100,000 people (total: 738,613)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 297 per 100,000 people (total: 13,850)
Maine
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 111,962 (10.5% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 921,333 (68.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 6,654 per 100,000 people (total: 89,064)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 76 per 100,000 people (total: 1,022)
Maryland
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 265,461 (5.8% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,876,526 (64.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 8,785 per 100,000 people (total: 530,861)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 173 per 100,000 people (total: 10,426)
Massachusetts
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 266,426 (5.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 4,679,810 (67.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,716 per 100,000 people (total: 808,673)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 269 per 100,000 people (total: 18,577)
Michigan
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 809,503 (10.6% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 5,221,120 (52.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,458 per 100,000 people (total: 1,145,328)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 223 per 100,000 people (total: 22,275)
Minnesota
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 427,642 (10.1% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,280,065 (58.5% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 12,585 per 100,000 people (total: 706,158)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 146 per 100,000 people (total: 8,212)
Mississippi
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 265,145 (12.1% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,294,972 (43.4% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,316 per 100,000 people (total: 487,293)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 321 per 100,000 people (total: 9,588)
Missouri
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 503,986 (10.9% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,941,505 (48.0% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,350 per 100,000 people (total: 817,874)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 187 per 100,000 people (total: 11,485)
Montana
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 163,659 (19.9% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 518,303 (48.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,978 per 100,000 people (total: 148,490)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 187 per 100,000 people (total: 1,989)
Nebraska
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 160,265 (11.3% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,057,562 (54.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,763 per 100,000 people (total: 265,516)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 147 per 100,000 people (total: 2,827)
Nevada
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 248,867 (10.4% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,563,310 (51.5% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,821 per 100,000 people (total: 419,379)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 233 per 100,000 people (total: 7,073)
New Hampshire
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 107,058 (10.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 836,277 (61.7% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 8,778 per 100,000 people (total: 119,068)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 109 per 100,000 people (total: 1,477)
New Jersey
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 371,695 (5.5% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 5,713,118 (64.1% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 12,912 per 100,000 people (total: 1,150,246)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 307 per 100,000 people (total: 27,380)
New Mexico
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 120,163 (7.6% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,324,646 (63.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,997 per 100,000 people (total: 251,384)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 228 per 100,000 people (total: 4,776)
New York
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 851,027 (5.7% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 12,402,027 (63.5% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 12,364 per 100,000 people (total: 2,416,246)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 282 per 100,000 people (total: 55,152)
North Carolina
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 524,775 (6.5% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 5,221,411 (50.3% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,345 per 100,000 people (total: 1,385,700)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 157 per 100,000 people (total: 16,285)
North Dakota
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 121,547 (21.7% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 336,457 (44.3% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 17,288 per 100,000 people (total: 131,399)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 212 per 100,000 people (total: 1,610)
Ohio
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 1,203,309 (13.6% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 5,870,552 (50.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,985 per 100,000 people (total: 1,400,979)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 188 per 100,000 people (total: 21,945)
These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Oklahoma
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 460,113 (15.8% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,883,414 (47.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 15,518 per 100,000 people (total: 611,885)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 227 per 100,000 people (total: 8,970)
Oregon
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 257,372 (7.8% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,562,913 (61.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 7,784 per 100,000 people (total: 326,191)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 89 per 100,000 people (total: 3,750)
Pennsylvania
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 1,210,344 (12.4% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 7,405,158 (57.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 11,091 per 100,000 people (total: 1,420,478)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 228 per 100,000 people (total: 29,226)
Rhode Island
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 32,050 (3.9% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 723,162 (68.4% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,244 per 100,000 people (total: 171,751)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 268 per 100,000 people (total: 2,834)
South Carolina
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 413,998 (10.4% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,433,429 (47.9% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,777 per 100,000 people (total: 852,959)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 243 per 100,000 people (total: 12,369)
South Dakota
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 85,177 (13.3% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 457,326 (51.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 16,322 per 100,000 people (total: 143,995)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 242 per 100,000 people (total: 2,133)
Tennessee
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 839,596 (16.1% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,103,098 (45.8% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 18,032 per 100,000 people (total: 1,220,784)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 222 per 100,000 people (total: 15,055)
Texas
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 1,918,360 (9.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 14,813,685 (51.6% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 14,017 per 100,000 people (total: 4,023,240)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 220 per 100,000 people (total: 63,245)
Utah
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 227,691 (10.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 1,622,171 (51.3% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 15,976 per 100,000 people (total: 505,004)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 92 per 100,000 people (total: 2,905)
These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
Vermont
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 23,844 (4.9% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 433,565 (69.2% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 4,942 per 100,000 people (total: 30,953)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 48 per 100,000 people (total: 300)
Virginia
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 491,248 (7.6% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 5,170,550 (60.7% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 10,139 per 100,000 people (total: 863,645)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 149 per 100,000 people (total: 12,697)
Washington
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 481,052 (8.2% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 4,631,921 (61.5% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 8,652 per 100,000 people (total: 652,011)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 101 per 100,000 people (total: 7,591)
West Virginia
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 280,591 (20.3% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 724,405 (40.1% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,124 per 100,000 people (total: 237,002)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 198 per 100,000 people (total: 3,578)
Wisconsin
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 595,440 (13.4% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,286,121 (56.5% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 13,831 per 100,000 people (total: 804,082)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 152 per 100,000 people (total: 8,849)
Wyoming
> Adults who will likely or definitely refuse vaccination: 78,066 (18.0% of total)
> Residents who are fully vaccinated: 240,814 (41.7% of population)
> Confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date: 15,479 per 100,000 people (total: 89,430)
> COVID-19-related fatalities to date: 172 per 100,000 people (total: 996)
Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.