New COVID vaccine receives mixed response

The latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor poll has unveiled a mixed picture of public response to the newly recommended COVID-19 vaccine, with nearly half of adults expressing their intention to get the shot. However, the poll also highlights hesitancy among parents regarding vaccinating their children, along with notable partisan divisions in vaccine intentions.

According to the poll's findings, 23% of all adults surveyed stated that they would "definitely" get the new COVID-19 vaccine, while an additional 23% indicated they would "probably" get it. In contrast, 19% said they would "probably not" get it, and 33% stated they would "definitely not" get the vaccine.

This survey's results show a higher level of public intention to receive the new COVID-19 vaccine compared to the percentage of individuals who have received previous booster shots. However, this enthusiasm still falls short of the initial vaccine uptake observed in 2020.

Of note, 37% of individuals who had previously received a COVID-19 vaccine expressed doubts about getting the new shot, emphasizing lingering hesitancy within the population.

The survey highlights demographic trends, indicating that older adults, specifically those aged 65 and above, exhibited the highest willingness to receive the new vaccine, with 64% expressing their intention to do so. Additionally, Democrats displayed a notably high willingness, with 70% indicating they would "definitely" or "probably" get the new vaccine.

In contrast, a significant partisan divide persists, with only 24% of Republicans expressing their intention to receive the new COVID-19 vaccine, representing a substantial 46-point gap compared to Democrats. The survey indicated a disparity in confidence levels between Democrats and Republicans regarding vaccine safety. While 84% of Democrats expressed confidence in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 36% of Republicans shared the same sentiment.

Despite the new COVID-19 vaccine being recommended for children aged 6 months and older, parents displayed reluctance in vaccinating their children. Fewer than four in ten parents expressed their intent to get the vaccine for their children in various age groups, including ages 12-17 (39%), ages 5-11 (36%), and ages 6 months through 4 years (34%). Over half of parents in each age group stated they probably or definitely wouldn't get their children vaccinated.

The poll also revealed that a larger proportion of eligible individuals planned to get an annual flu shot and a newly recommended vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) compared to the COVID-19 vaccine. For example, 58% of adults reported they had already received or expected to get a flu shot, while 60% of adults aged 60 and older expressed their intention to get the new RSV vaccine recommended for their age group.