As the omicron variant continues to spread, the national vaccination effort is as urgent as it ever has been. Still, many Americans remain hesitant.
According to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 23,830,000 Americans — or 9.6% 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, 14,120,000 people, 5.7% of the adult population, do not trust the COVID-19 vaccines, and another 6,980,000, or 2.8%, do not think COVID-19 is a big threat. Additionally, 12,130,000 American adults, or 4.9% of the 18 and older population, have not been vaccinated because they do not trust the government.
In Washington, an estimated 351,900 adults, or 6.0%, say they will likely refuse the vaccine. Of all adults in the state, 3.4% will refuse because they do not trust the COVID-19 vaccine specifically, 3.1% because they do not think COVID-19 is a big threat, and 4.0% because they distrust the government.
Despite pockets of resistance, Washington is doing a better job at vaccinating its population quickly than most states. So far, 71.2% of Washington’s population are fully vaccinated, compared to 65.2% of all Americans.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,382,782 confirmed cases of the virus in the Washington, and a total of 11,099 residents have died as a result.
All survey data used in this story was published by the Census on Jan. 19, 2022. All data related to COVID-19 infections, fatalities, and vaccinations is current as of Feb. 10, 2022.
| Rank | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 20.5% | 53.5% | 395,366 | 4,497 |
| 2 | Wyoming | 19.8% | 50.2% | 151,159 | 1,667 |
| 3 | Montana | 19.6% | 55.9% | 253,204 | 3,043 |
| 4 | North Dakota | 18.6% | 54.3% | 231,841 | 2,139 |
| 5 | Georgia | 16.7% | 53.8% | 2,419,503 | 33,665 |
| 6 | South Dakota | 16.4% | 59.5% | 231,379 | 2,697 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 16.1% | 55.7% | 1,000,480 | 12,425 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 16.0% | 53.5% | 1,947,865 | 23,149 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 16.0% | 56.0% | 466,125 | 5,900 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 15.9% | 55.9% | 1,423,919 | 15,985 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 14.8% | 53.1% | 798,036 | 9,895 |
| 12 | Alabama | 14.4% | 49.9% | 1,254,036 | 17,452 |
| 13 | Mississippi | 13.2% | 50.3% | 770,522 | 11,378 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 12.7% | 64.1% | 1,545,059 | 12,739 |
| 15 | Indiana | 12.7% | 53.9% | 1,655,125 | 21,911 |
| 16 | Kentucky | 12.5% | 56.0% | 1,212,686 | 13,182 |
| 17 | Iowa | 12.3% | 60.7% | 735,422 | 8,829 |
| 18 | Alaska | 12.1% | 59.4% | 220,388 | 1,060 |
| 19 | Michigan | 12.0% | 58.6% | 2,311,891 | 33,080 |
| 20 | Louisiana | 11.7% | 52.0% | 1,142,165 | 16,016 |
| 21 | Utah | 11.7% | 63.4% | 905,112 | 4,223 |
| 22 | Kansas | 11.5% | 59.6% | 748,520 | 7,725 |
| 23 | Ohio | 11.5% | 57.1% | 2,617,104 | 34,592 |
| 24 | Florida | 11.2% | 66.0% | 5,713,185 | 66,468 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 11.0% | 66.3% | 2,703,408 | 41,781 |
| 26 | Oregon | 11.0% | 68.6% | 665,486 | 6,265 |
| 27 | Arizona | 10.9% | 60.3% | 1,926,240 | 26,822 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 10.9% | 67.9% | 1,375,279 | 11,832 |
| 29 | Missouri | 10.9% | 54.8% | 1,362,253 | 17,950 |
| 30 | Nebraska | 10.6% | 62.1% | 448,709 | 3,802 |
| 31 | Colorado | 10.3% | 69.4% | 1,279,858 | 11,416 |
| 32 | Nevada | 10.2% | 59.9% | 669,748 | 9,236 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | 9.3% | 69.4% | 284,567 | 2,270 |
| 34 | Illinois | 8.5% | 66.4% | 2,977,341 | 35,476 |
| 35 | Virginia | 8.3% | 71.4% | 1,593,694 | 17,305 |
| 36 | Texas | 8.2% | 59.9% | 6,395,334 | 79,711 |
| 37 | North Carolina | 7.7% | 59.4% | 2,498,957 | 21,325 |
| 38 | Maine | 7.5% | 78.2% | 183,499 | 1,819 |
| 39 | New Jersey | 6.8% | 73.3% | 2,134,058 | 32,094 |
| 40 | Washington | 6.0% | 71.2% | 1,382,782 | 11,099 |
| 41 | New York | 5.9% | 74.4% | 4,846,576 | 65,514 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 5.5% | 79.9% | 350,080 | 3,365 |
| 43 | Vermont | 5.4% | 79.4% | 99,644 | 531 |
| 44 | Connecticut | 5.1% | 77.0% | 709,621 | 10,158 |
| 45 | California | 4.9% | 69.5% | 8,702,920 | 80,640 |
| 46 | Hawaii | 4.7% | 76.2% | 222,504 | 1,214 |
| 47 | Maryland | 4.6% | 73.3% | 966,066 | 13,787 |
| 48 | Delaware | 4.2% | 67.3% | 251,669 | 2,593 |
| 49 | New Mexico | 4.1% | 68.9% | 495,769 | 6,561 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | 3.6% | 76.9% | 1,639,656 | 22,602 |
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