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, 26,760,000 Americans — or 10.7% of the 18 and older population — say they will either probably or definitely not get the vaccination when given the opportunity.
The majority of 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 they think that others would benefit more than themselves from a vaccination. Others cite different reasons.
Nationwide, 16,360,000 people, 6.6% of the adult population, do not trust the COVID-19 vaccines, and another 4,620,000, or 1.9%, are anti-vaccines in general. Additionally, 12,020,000 American adults, or 4.8% of the 18 and older population, have not been vaccinated because they do not trust the government.
In New York, an estimated 1,177,300 adults, or 7.9%, say they will likely refuse the vaccine. Of all adults in the state, 4.1% will refuse because they do not trust the COVID-19 vaccine specifically, 1.7% because they are against vaccination in general, and 2.9% because they distrust the government.
Despite pockets of resistance, New York is doing a better job at vaccinating its population quickly than most states. So far, 54.9% of New York’s population are fully vaccinated, compared to 48.6% of all Americans.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 2,116,107 confirmed cases of the virus in the New York, and a total of 53,385 residents have died as a result.
All survey data used in this story was published by the Census on July 14, 2021. All data related to COVID-19 infections, fatalities, and vaccinations is current as of July 9, 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 | 18.2% | 33.3% | 553,476 | 11,391 |
| Alaska | 20.3% | 44.1% | 68,674 | 370 |
| Arizona | 11.2% | 44.6% | 898,283 | 18,004 |
| Arkansas | 18.5% | 34.9% | 353,095 | 5,933 |
| California | 5.1% | 50.9% | 3,721,006 | 63,259 |
| Colorado | 9.7% | 53.4% | 560,419 | 6,824 |
| Connecticut | 3.2% | 61.5% | 349,743 | 8,278 |
| Delaware | 8.7% | 51.4% | 109,900 | 1,695 |
| Florida | 12.2% | 47.3% | 2,350,730 | 38,097 |
| Georgia | 14.3% | 37.5% | 1,137,560 | 21,467 |
| Hawaii | 5.2% | 52.4% | 36,714 | 515 |
| Idaho | 19.5% | 37.3% | 195,552 | 2,162 |
| Illinois | 9.4% | 46.8% | 1,394,235 | 25,733 |
| Indiana | 15.7% | 43.3% | 756,070 | 13,892 |
| Iowa | 13.6% | 48.6% | 374,381 | 6,149 |
| Kansas | 14.6% | 42.6% | 319,586 | 5,166 |
| Kentucky | 17.4% | 44.3% | 466,244 | 7,250 |
| Louisiana | 17.5% | 35.6% | 485,803 | 10,765 |
| Maine | 13.1% | 62.7% | 69,192 | 861 |
| Maryland | 7.4% | 57.1% | 462,835 | 9,758 |
| Massachusetts | 4.8% | 62.4% | 710,519 | 18,008 |
| Michigan | 12.7% | 47.7% | 1,001,153 | 21,036 |
| Minnesota | 9.5% | 52.9% | 606,034 | 7,708 |
| Mississippi | 18.1% | 33.2% | 323,641 | 7,437 |
| Missouri | 11.1% | 39.7% | 627,804 | 9,377 |
| Montana | 15.0% | 43.7% | 114,102 | 1,671 |
| Nebraska | 11.1% | 48.3% | 225,069 | 2,262 |
| Nevada | 8.4% | 43.5% | 336,562 | 5,705 |
| New Hampshire | 10.9% | 57.3% | 99,652 | 1,374 |
| New Jersey | 4.9% | 56.1% | 1,024,748 | 26,490 |
| New Mexico | 8.3% | 55.6% | 205,996 | 4,347 |
| New York | 7.9% | 54.9% | 2,116,107 | 53,385 |
| North Carolina | 9.8% | 42.9% | 1,016,262 | 13,460 |
| North Dakota | 22.1% | 39.4% | 110,808 | 1,530 |
| Ohio | 15.0% | 45.4% | 1,113,006 | 20,366 |
| Oklahoma | 16.7% | 39.2% | 460,131 | 7,407 |
| Oregon | 10.5% | 54.9% | 209,764 | 2,788 |
| Pennsylvania | 8.8% | 50.5% | 1,213,321 | 27,718 |
| Rhode Island | 5.6% | 59.9% | 152,738 | 2,730 |
| South Carolina | 16.3% | 39.9% | 598,809 | 9,857 |
| South Dakota | 17.2% | 46.1% | 124,641 | 2,039 |
| Tennessee | 16.7% | 38.3% | 868,738 | 12,583 |
| Texas | 12.5% | 42.5% | 2,997,665 | 51,384 |
| Utah | 11.3% | 38.6% | 417,653 | 2,387 |
| Vermont | 4.7% | 66.1% | 22,848 | 250 |
| Virginia | 6.1% | 52.9% | 681,890 | 11,441 |
| Washington | 9.6% | 56.4% | 454,068 | 5,973 |
| West Virginia | 21.9% | 38.4% | 164,346 | 2,901 |
| Wisconsin | 13.6% | 50.7% | 678,232 | 8,154 |
| Wyoming | 25.7% | 35.8% | 62,737 | 751 |
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