COVID-19 Vaccination: Sociopolitical and Economic Impact in the United States

Abstract

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, vaccination against the virus has been implemented and has progressed among various groups across all ethnicities, genders, and almost all ages in the United States. This study examines the impacts of socioeconomic status and political preference on COVID-19 vaccination in over 443 counties in the southwestern United States. Regression analysis was used to examine the association between a county’s vaccination rate and one’s personal income, employment status, education, race and ethnicity, age, occupation, residential area, and political preference. The results were as follows: First, counties with higher average personal income tend to have a higher vaccination rate (p < 0.001). Second, county-level vaccination is significantly associated with the percentage of Democrat votes (β = 0.242, p < 0.001). Third, race and ethnicity are vaccine-influencing factors. Counties with more Black residents have lower vaccine acceptance (β = −0.419, p < 0.001), while those where more Hispanics or Native Americans reside are more likely to accept vaccines for health protection (β = 0.202, p < 0.001; β = 0.057, p = 0.008, respectively). Lastly, pertaining to the age difference, seniors aged 65 and older show substantial support for vaccination, followed by the median age group (all p < 0.001).

Comparing demographics, clinical characteristics, and hospital outcomes by vaccine uptake status: A single-institution cross-sectional study

“…[26][27][28][29] However, our study did not identify any demographic subgroup that was more or less vaccinated. This is in contrast with many US-based studies that have found higher rates of vaccination in the elderly, [7] Caucasian and Asian communities, [30][31][32] and regions with high insurance coverage. [33,34] Many studies have also found lower rates of immunization in African Americans, nonwhite Hispanics, [31,35] and patients with no insurance, housing instability, food insecurity, conservative political views, and education restricted to a high-school diploma or less.…”

Bibliometric Analysis of Global Scientific Production on COVID-19 and Vaccines

“…Finally, the main current challenge is to obtain herd immunity and “vaccine equity” among countries, bearing in mind that the challenges of vaccines against COVID-19 include three dimensions, ranging from development and dissemination to the distribution of vaccines [ 74 , 75 ]. Vaccine distribution is still a problem in countries with low human development, which still lack vaccines and strategies to exceed the target of 70% of the population vaccinated [ 76 , 77 ].…”