The survey found that most adults believe vaccines are generally safe and that it is important for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, African Americans expressed the most apprehension. While 7 in 10 respondents had received or planned to get the COVID-19 vaccine, African Americans were least likely and Hispanics were more likely to plan to get it but less likely to have received it already. The top reasons for not planning to get the vaccine were concerns about insufficient testing and side effects. FDA approval was the primary factor influencing respondents' decision to get vaccinated.

1. Lottery / Covid-19 Report Brief
November 2020
ThinkNow COVID-19
Vaccine Report
March 2021

2. Background & Methodology
ThinkNow conducted a nationwide online
survey of American adults ages 18-64 to
explore their perceptions about vaccines,
particularly the COVID-19 vaccine.
The study also measures their likelihood of
getting the COVID-19 vaccine when made
available to them.
Survey Method
Field Timing
303
Hispanics
Base
Size
› Online via ThinkNow Research’s
Omnibus Study
› February 2021
Methodology
Regional Coverage
› National
Screening Criteria
› 18 to 64 years of age
Base Size
› n=1,550

3. Summary of Key Findings
• Most adults (73%) believe it’s “very” or “somewhat” important that
people get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• At the time of this survey, a combined 7-out-of-10 adults had either
received at least one dose of the vaccine or are somewhat/very
likely to get the vaccine.
• “Not enough testing of the vaccine” and “afraid of the side effects”
are the top reasons why some people are opposed to getting the
COVID-19 vaccine.
• African Americans are the most apprehensive about getting the
COVID-19 vaccine.
• Attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccine differ significantly by age,
gender, ethnicity, household income and political affiliation.
• An FDA approval is a deciding factor for getting the COVID-19
vaccine, followed by a recommendation from a doctor and the
approval of the CDC.

4. 4
Detailed
Findings

5. 5% 3%
10%
2% 5% 5% 4% 5% 5% 5% 6%
5%
4%
8%
4%
5% 4% 6%
9% 5% 5% 4%
14% 15%
23%
9%
12% 12%
17%
15%
15% 16%
9%
34%
29%
35%
41%
34% 33%
35%
39%
33% 30%
38%
42%
48%
24%
43% 44% 46%
39%
32%
42% 44% 43%
Very safe
Somewhat safe
Not sure
Not very safe
Not safe at all
Up/down arrow indicates significant difference
versus Total Market at 95% confidence level.
How safe do you think vaccines are in general?
Total
Market
Hispanics Blacks/
AA
Asians Whites Men Women 18-24 23-38 39-54 55-64
(N=1,550) (N=500) (N=250) (N=250) (N=500) (N=754) (N=775) (N=265) (N=628) (N=380) (N=277)
Most adults believe that vaccines in general are at least somewhat safe. This sentiment increases
with age.
• African Americans are the least likely to consider vaccines safe, while Asian Americans are the most likely to consider them safe.
76% 77% 60% 85% 78% 78% 73% 71% 76% 74% 81%

 

6. 7% 5%
11%
1%
8% 7% 9% 9% 9% 5% 7%
6%
4%
7%
2%
6% 5%
7% 8% 7%
5% 4%
13%
11%
18%
10%
12%
10%
16% 16%
11%
15% 11%
21%
24%
25%
21%
20%
21%
22%
23%
22% 23%
16%
52% 56%
40%
65%
53% 58%
47% 43%
50% 52%
61%
Very important
Somewhat important
Not sure
Not very important
Not important at all
How important do you think it is that people get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Differences of opinion on the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine exist across age, gender and
racial groups.
• Perception of the importance of vaccination increases with age.
• Men and Asian Americans also place the most importance on getting the vaccine.
73% 80% 65% 86% 74% 79% 69% 66% 73% 74% 78%
Total
Market
Hispanics Blacks/
AA
Asians Whites Men Women 18-24 23-38 39-54 55-64
(N=1,550) (N=500) (N=250) (N=250) (N=500) (N=754) (N=775) (N=265) (N=628) (N=380) (N=277)






 


Up/down arrow indicates significant difference
versus Total Market at 95% confidence level.

7. • African Americans are the least likely to have gotten the vaccine, or to be planning to.
• Hispanics are more likely to want to get the vaccine but less likely to have already gotten it compared to Whites.
• Younger Americans are less likely to say they will be getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
13% 10% 8%
14% 15% 16%
11% 8%
17%
10% 14%
14%
9%
19% 7%
15% 11% 16% 20%
14%
12%
13%
7%
6%
6%
5%
6%
5% 8% 7%
8%
6%
5%
10%
10%
15%
7%
10%
9%
12% 10%
8%
13% 9%
11%
17%
14%
13%
8%
10%
12% 16% 12%
9% 9%
45% 48%
36%
54%
46% 50%
41% 39% 41%
49% 49%
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not sure
Not very likely
Not likely at all
I already got the vaccine
How likely are you to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Total
Market
Hispanics Blacks/
AA
Asians Whites Men Women 18-24 23-38 39-54 55-64
(N=1,550) (N=500) (N=250) (N=250) (N=500) (N=754) (N=775) (N=265) (N=628) (N=380) (N=277)
At the time of this survey, a combined 7-out-of-10 respondents had either received the vaccine or
are somewhat/very likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Already Have It/ Very/Somewhat Likely 69% 75% 59% 81% 70% 76% 64% 63% 71% 68% 72%
Very/Somewhat Likely 56% 65% 51% 67% 55% 60% 53% 55% 54% 58% 58%

 



Up/down arrow indicates significant difference
versus Total Market at 95% confidence level.

8. Total
Market
Hispanics
Blacks/
AA
Asians Whites Men Women 18-24 23-38 39-54 55-64
Not enough testing has been done on it 47% 40% 34% 46% 52% 42% 50% 37% 44% 53% 50%
I'm afraid of the side effects 43% 42% 40% 51% 44% 42% 44% 43% 43% 44% 42%
I have heard negative things about it 29% 29% 32% 27% 27% 26% 31% 33% 28% 29% 26%
I don't trust the government 29% 25% 36% 16% 31% 31% 28% 32% 32% 26% 27%
I don't think it will work 20% 18% 22% 23% 18% 28% 15% 25% 22% 22% 12%
It's too controversial 16% 12% 18% 19% 17% 15% 17% 13% 18% 15% 17%
I don't need it 14% 9% 17% 7% 14% 16% 12% 16% 17% 8% 15%
I don't like shots/needles 13% 11% 10% 17% 14% 17% 10% 18% 13% 15% 6%
I'm not worried about getting COVID-19 12% 9% 9% 3% 14% 16% 10% 14% 13% 10% 14%
I already had COVID-19 7% 9% 4% - 7% 5% 7% 10% 8% 4% 7%
A health care professional told me I shouldn't take it 6% 4% 7% 4% 5% 10% 3% 2% 9% 5% 4%
Friend/family member told me I shouldn't take it 5% 6% 6% 4% 3% 5% 4% 9% 7% 2% 3%
(N=506) (N=150) (N=109) (N=53) (N=169) (N=207) (N=290) (N=100) (N=197) (N=130) (N=79)
“Not enough testing of the vaccine” and “I’m afraid of the side effects” are the top reasons why
people are apprehensive about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Men are about twice as likely as women to believe the vaccine will not work.
• African Americans are most likely to say there hasn’t been enough testing on the vaccine as a reason for not getting vaccinated.
• Asians, the most likely to consider vaccines safe, trust the government the most of all cohorts.
Why are you Not sure/Not likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available?
Base: Not sure/Not planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine
Up/down arrow indicates significant difference
versus Total Market at 95% confidence level.

9. 50% 50%
34%
52% 55% 57%
44%
36%
42%
54%
64%
19% 18%
16%
21% 19% 18%
20%
29%
24%
15%
10%
11% 11%
17%
11% 9% 11%
10%
15% 13% 9%
8%
7% 6%
15%
6% 5% 4%
9%
9% 8% 5%
4%
14% 15% 18%
10% 12% 10%
17%
10% 13% 16% 13%
Not sure if/when I will get the vaccine
At least one year
At least 6 months after
A few months after
As soon as it's available
Which of the following best describes when you think you will get the
COVID-19 vaccine (after it's available to your age group/profession)?
Base: Have not gotten the vaccine
Total
Market
Hispanics Blacks/
AA
Asians Whites Men Women 18-24 23-38 39-54 55-64
(N=1,159) (N=402) (N=178) (N=198) (N=345) (N=568) (N=576) (N=197) (N=465) (N=288) (N=209)
Overall, about half of adults would like to get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to them.
• Interest in getting the vaccine increases with age.
• Significantly more men than women are ready to get the vaccine now.
• African Americans are willing to wait the longest.
 

Up/down arrow indicates significant difference
versus Total Market at 95% confidence level.

10. 9% 8%
14%
4%
9% 6%
12% 10% 9% 8% 9%
9% 10%
11%
7%
8%
7%
10% 13%
7% 11% 9%
16% 15%
22%
14%
16%
15%
18% 20%
16%
17%
13%
33% 32%
33%
45% 32%
33%
34%
34%
33% 28% 41%
32% 35%
21%
30% 34% 38%
26% 23%
34% 36%
27%
Very confident
Somewhat confident
Not sure
Not very confident
Not confident at all
How confident are you that the COVID-19 vaccine will keep people from getting COVID-19?
Two-thirds of adults 18-64 are very/somewhat confident that the COVID-19 vaccine will protect people
from getting COVID-19.
• Asian Americans expressed the most confidence while African Americans expressed the least confidence.
• Men are also more confident than women.
65% 67% 54% 75% 67% 71% 60% 57% 67% 64% 68%
Total
Market
Hispanics Blacks/
AA
Asians Whites Men Women 18-24 23-38 39-54 55-64
(N=1,550) (N=500) (N=250) (N=250) (N=500) (N=754) (N=775) (N=265) (N=628) (N=380) (N=277)




 



Up/down arrow indicates significant difference
versus Total Market at 95% confidence level.

11. 43%
21%
26%
Democratic Republican Independent
63%
39%
48%
53%
31%
37%
Attitudes About COVID-19 Vaccine By Political Affiliation
Attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine and the likelihood of getting vaccinated differ considerably by
political affiliation.
56%
35%
38%
(N=709) (N=271) (N=362)
60%
38%
49%
Vaccines are “very safe” “Very important” that people
get the COVID-19 vaccine
“Very confident” the COVID-
19 vaccine will keep people
from getting COVID-19
“Very likely” to get the COVID-
19 vaccine when available to
them
Will get vaccine as soon as
it’s available to them (rather
than wait several months or
more)
• Those who identify as Democrats are twice as likely to say they’re very confident that the vaccine will prevent people from
contracting COVID-19.

12. 51%
67%
78%
< $40K $40K-$79K $80K+
29%
40%
56%
Attitudes About COVID-19 Vaccine By Household Income
Perceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine improve as household income increases.
(N=709) (N=271) (N=362)
Vaccines are “very safe” “Very important” that people
get the COVID-19 vaccine
“Very confident” the COVID-
19 vaccine will keep people
from getting COVID-19
“Very likely” to get the COVID-
19 vaccine when available to
them
Will get vaccine as soon as
it’s available to them (rather
than wait several months or
more)
61%
76%
85%
46%
56%
65%
35%
50%
64%
7% 14% 19%
Already
got the
vaccine
→

13. (N=1,550)
64%
61%
57%
54%
49%
44%
45%
43%
41%
35%
33%
30%
30%
23%
21%
20%
19%
18%
If it is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
If my doctor recommends it
If the CDC recommends it
If the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends it
If the majority of Americans have gotten the vaccine
If President Biden recommends it
If a family member recommends it
If my employer recommends it
If other people I know are getting it or not
FDA approval is the primary factor influencing the decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine, followed by a
doctor’s recommendation and CDC approval.
• Seeing other people getting the vaccine and recommendations from their employer are less influential factors.
How important will the following factors be in your decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine or not?
Very Important
Very/Somewhat
Important

14. Appendix

15. Total Market
Gender
Male 49%
Female 49%
Other 1%
Age
18 to 22 12%
23 to 38 36%
39 to 54 32%
55 to 64 20%
Median age 40
Ethnicity
White (Non-Hispanic) 61%
Black, African-American 12%
Hispanic/Latino 18%
Asian 6%
Regions
Northeast 18%
Midwest 21%
South 37%
West 24%
(n=1,550)
Respondent Profile
Total Market
Marital Status
Single (Net) 29%
Married or living with partner (Net) 58%
Separated/divorced/widowed (Net) 12%
Prefer not to answer (Net) 1%
Education
High School Grad or Less (Net) 27%
Some College (Net) 32%
College Grad or More (Net) 40%
Employment Status
Employed (Net) 66%
Household Income
Median $59K
People in Household
Mean 3.03
Have 1+ child at home 44%
Born outside the U.S 14%
(n=1,550)