A poll of more than 2,000 adults aged 50 to 80 showed 58 percent of adults aged 50 to 80 somewhat or very likely to get vaccinated to prevent COVID-19.
The poll, taken in October for the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation under the University of Michigan (UM), found that women, people of color, people between 50 and 64 years old, and those with lower incomes and education levels were less likely to say they'd seek vaccination in general.
Only 40 percent of older adults who are Black and 51 percent of those who are Hispanic said they are somewhat or very likely to get vaccinated, despite the greater risk of hospitalization and death for members of these groups if they contract COVID-19.
People over age 65, whites, men and those with higher levels of education were more likely than others to say they'd want to get vaccinated right away. One-quarter of respondents said they'd consider taking part in a vaccine clinical trial.
Some 93 percent of respondents agreed it's important to prioritize giving COVID-19 vaccines to high-risk individuals. Older adults, those who work directly with the public in health care and other professions, and people with underlying health conditions and weak immune systems, have all been identified as possible priority groups.
The poll also found just over half of respondents knew someone who had had COVID-19, and 2 percent said they'd been infected themselves.
Nearly 1 in 5 said they knew someone who had died of COVID-19. But members of these groups were no more likely to say they'd get vaccinated.
Messaging about the cost of vaccines for consumers also appears to be important. Nearly one-third of respondents said cost was very important to their decision about vaccination.
