Who’s getting vaccinated in Florida? Big Demographic differences persist
Bottom Line: Vaccine hesitancy has been a common topic of conversation. Especially as we’re now at the stage where any Floridian 16 and older has access to a COVID-19 vaccine. From the onset of the vaccine rollout hesitancy was always highest with minorities. Polling commonly revealed Asians and Whites were the most likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine with Blacks and Hispanics the least likely. New analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that remains the case based on who has actually been vaccinated.
The Foundation’s most recent study, factoring all reported vaccinations through April 12th, revealed the following in Florida based on population:
- Asians and Whites have been 7% more likely to be vaccinated
- Hispanics: 22% less likely to be vaccinated
- Blacks: 50% less likely to be vaccinated
This isn’t atypical. Data show Blacks are less likely to be vaccinated in all states except Utah and West Virginia with Hispanics less likely to be vaccinated in all states except Arkansas and Missouri. Clearly, the vaccine hesitancy based on cultural differences and concerns remains a huge consideration as we enter the final phase of the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout. With vaccine demand generally outstripping supply until now, these concerns have been secondary considerations. As supply meets and exceeds demand it’ll likely come into focus to a greater degree. Much has been made of herd immunity occurring north of 70% who are vaccinated. Given that many communities are largely comprised of demographically similar people, it’s possible we may soon reach herd immunity levels in Asian/White predominant neighborhoods through Florida – while being nowhere near it in predominant Black and Hispanic communities. Florida Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz has increasingly been discussing the need to continue to make progress with minority acceptance. These data illustrate just how vast the demographic differences really are in Florida.
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