The following report highlights findings from a survey fielded by Healthfirst, a not-for-profit providing high-quality, affordable health insurance in New York, of its members and their households. By partnering with this organization to implement our previously tested CUNY New York Vaccine Literacy Campaign (NY VLC) survey tool, we examine COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and uptake in undersampled and often vulnerable populations of New York. The survey was conducted from March 21 to March 24, 2022, with 670 participants across eight New York counties: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, New York (Manhattan), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Suffolk, and Westchester.
It should be noted that the sample sizes of this survey are generally small, therefore, we emphasize that these results are preliminary and exploratory in nature; they highlight potential disparities that should be confirmed in future research and outreach efforts. In this report, we explore vaccination status within different demographic groups. We draw attention to the responses from the unvaccinated participants to better assess who, within that group, may still be willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine in the future.
The following report highlights findings from a survey fielded by Healthfirst, a not-for-profit providing high-quality, affordable health insurance in New York, and their households. By partnering with this organization to implement our previously tested CUNY New York Vaccine Literacy Campaign (NY VLC) survey tool, we examine COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and uptake in undersampled and often vulnerable populations of New York. The survey was conducted from March 21 to March 24, 2022, with 670 participants across eight New York counties: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, New York (Manhattan), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Suffolk, and Westchester.
It should be noted that the sample sizes of this survey are generally small, therefore, we emphasize that these results are preliminary and exploratory in nature; they highlight potential disparities that should be confirmed in future research and outreach efforts. In this report, we explore vaccination status within different demographic groups. We draw attention to the responses from the unvaccinated participants to better assess who, within that group, may still be willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine in the future.
COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Willingness to Vaccinate
Overall, the Healthfirst sample demonstrates slightly higher rates of COVID-19 vaccination than the general population sample surveyed by the NY VLC: seventy percent (70%) compared to sixty-five percent (65%). Unvaccinated Healthfirst respondents were also more open to future vaccination than respondents from the general sample. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of unvaccinated respondents reported willingness to get vaccinated in the future based on their responses that they were somewhat or very likely, or neutral/unsure. This is a slight improvement from the sixty percent (60%) of the general unvaccinated population who expressed willingness to be vaccinated in the future. The remaining thirty-three percent (33%) of unvaccinated Healthfirst respondents stated they were not very likely or not at all likely to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Race/Ethnicity and Willingness to Vaccinate
Willingness or ability to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the unvaccinated Healthfirst respondents may vary by race and ethnicity. Just forty-three percent (43%) of unvaccinated White/Caucasian respondents expressed willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the future. Seventy-five percent (75%) of African American or Black, seventy-six percent (76%) of Asian, and seventy-five percent (75%) of Hispanic or Latino/a respondents who were unvaccinated said the same.
Chronic Conditions and Willingness to Vaccinate
Presence of chronic disease may influence willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccination. Among unvaccinated Healthfirst participants, sixty-eight percent (68%) identified that they were diagnosed with at least one chronic condition; seventy-two percent (72%) of this subgroup expressed willingness to get vaccinated in the future. Conversely, just fifty-seven percent (57%) of unvaccinated Healthfirst participants with no chronic disease stated they would consider vaccination in the future.
Household Income and Vaccination Status
Participants with a household income of less than $25,000 constitute fifty-four percent (54%) of the Healthfirst sample. This group has strong vaccination uptake, with seventy-two percent (72%) having already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The remaining twenty-eight percent (28%) of unvaccinated participants with a household income under $25,000 demonstrate willing attitudes towards future vaccination: seventy percent (70%).
Education and Willingness to Vaccinate
Unvaccinated Healthfirst participants with a high school degree or less could be willing to accept future COVID-19 vaccination. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of unvaccinated Healthfirst respondents with less than a high school diploma and sixty-three percent (63%) with a high school diploma are open to future vaccination.
Ideally members only but since it appears this was not verified we can say ‘their households”. I’ll still remove the “uninsured” subsample
