Factors and reasons associated with low COVID-19 vaccine uptake among highly hesitant communities in the US

Abstract

Background: The inability to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination rates can continue to have serious harm to our communities. Vaccine hesitancy is a major barrier towards high vaccination rates. We evaluated the relationship between COVID-19 vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy, and then examined whether community factors were associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy. Methods: We constructed and evaluated a cross-sectional, county-level dataset that included the levels of vaccination uptake and vaccine hesitancy, and population characteristics based on those included in the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. Results: Across 3142 US counties, vaccine hesitancy was significantly and negatively correlated with vaccine uptake rates (r = -0.06, P value