Recent surges of the delta variant in much of the United States are attributable in 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 get the vaccination.
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.
In Massachusetts, an estimated 266,400 adults, or 5.0%, say they will likely refuse the vaccine. Of all adults in the state, 3.7% will refuse because they do not trust the COVID-19 vaccine specifically, 1.8% because they do not think COVID-19 is a big threat, and 3.6% because they distrust the government.
Despite pockets of resistance, Massachusetts is doing a better job at vaccinating its population quickly than most states. So far, 67.8% of Massachusetts’s population are fully vaccinated, compared to 56.4% of all Americans.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 808,673 confirmed cases of the virus in the Massachusetts, and a total of 18,577 residents have died as a result.
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.
| State | Share adult pop. of who will likely refuse vaccination | Pop. currently fully vaccinated | Total COVID-19 infections to date | Total COVID-19 deaths to date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13.6% | 42.8% | 794,773 | 14,200 |
| Alaska | 11.0% | 50.2% | 107,640 | 542 |
| Arizona | 11.8% | 51.8% | 1,087,451 | 19,920 |
| Arkansas | 15.5% | 45.7% | 493,920 | 7,651 |
| California | 6.7% | 58.9% | 4,681,332 | 68,387 |
| Colorado | 10.5% | 60.0% | 667,366 | 7,522 |
| Connecticut | 3.9% | 68.6% | 389,730 | 8,626 |
| Delaware | 7.4% | 58.0% | 132,138 | 1,950 |
| Florida | 11.0% | 57.8% | 3,565,971 | 54,071 |
| Georgia | 12.1% | 45.9% | 1,569,405 | 25,757 |
| Hawaii | 8.3% | 57.7% | 76,243 | 752 |
| Idaho | 15.0% | 42.4% | 253,733 | 2,830 |
| Illinois | 9.8% | 53.2% | 1,621,175 | 27,568 |
| Indiana | 13.2% | 48.7% | 956,548 | 15,561 |
| Iowa | 14.5% | 54.0% | 451,492 | 6,482 |
| Kansas | 11.6% | 51.2% | 406,453 | 6,024 |
| Kentucky | 9.0% | 52.3% | 684,989 | 8,635 |
| Louisiana | 14.3% | 45.3% | 738,613 | 13,850 |
| Maine | 10.5% | 68.8% | 89,064 | 1,022 |
| Maryland | 5.8% | 64.2% | 530,861 | 10,426 |
| Massachusetts | 5.0% | 67.8% | 808,673 | 18,577 |
| Michigan | 10.6% | 52.2% | 1,145,328 | 22,275 |
| Minnesota | 10.1% | 58.5% | 706,158 | 8,212 |
| Mississippi | 12.1% | 43.4% | 487,293 | 9,588 |
| Missouri | 10.9% | 48.0% | 817,874 | 11,485 |
| Montana | 19.9% | 48.8% | 148,490 | 1,989 |
| Nebraska | 11.3% | 54.8% | 265,516 | 2,827 |
| Nevada | 10.4% | 51.5% | 419,379 | 7,073 |
| New Hampshire | 10.0% | 61.7% | 119,068 | 1,477 |
| New Jersey | 5.5% | 64.1% | 1,150,246 | 27,380 |
| New Mexico | 7.6% | 63.2% | 251,384 | 4,776 |
| New York | 5.7% | 63.5% | 2,416,246 | 55,152 |
| North Carolina | 6.5% | 50.3% | 1,385,700 | 16,285 |
| North Dakota | 21.7% | 44.3% | 131,399 | 1,610 |
| Ohio | 13.6% | 50.2% | 1,400,979 | 21,945 |
| Oklahoma | 15.8% | 47.8% | 611,885 | 8,970 |
| Oregon | 7.8% | 61.2% | 326,191 | 3,750 |
| Pennsylvania | 12.4% | 57.8% | 1,420,478 | 29,226 |
| Rhode Island | 3.9% | 68.4% | 171,751 | 2,834 |
| South Carolina | 10.4% | 47.9% | 852,959 | 12,369 |
| South Dakota | 13.3% | 51.8% | 143,995 | 2,133 |
| Tennessee | 16.1% | 45.8% | 1,220,784 | 15,055 |
| Texas | 9.0% | 51.6% | 4,023,240 | 63,245 |
| Utah | 10.0% | 51.3% | 505,004 | 2,905 |
| Vermont | 4.9% | 69.2% | 30,953 | 300 |
| Virginia | 7.6% | 60.7% | 863,645 | 12,697 |
| Washington | 8.2% | 61.5% | 652,011 | 7,591 |
| West Virginia | 20.3% | 40.1% | 237,002 | 3,578 |
| Wisconsin | 13.4% | 56.5% | 804,082 | 8,849 |
| Wyoming | 18.0% | 41.7% | 89,430 | 996 |
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