NJ’s Vaccine Hesitant Are Most Worried About Access, Side Effects: Study

Black and Latino residents, surveyed across nine New Jersey counties, said they were less worried about being protected against the coronavirus itself and more concerned about unknown side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new study by Summit Medical Group Foundation and Mathematica.

The report engaged predominantly Black and Latino residents who use food pantries across northern New Jersey and compared them to white patients at doctor's offices.

“Everybody has their own reasons, and we have to be able to address them if we want to get back to normalcy,” said So O’Neil, a senior researcher at Mathematica. “Without understanding the reasons behind why people feel the way they do about getting the vaccine, you're not going to be able to tailor those messages to be effective.”

O'Neil said Black and Latino residents—who experience higher rates of heart disease and diabetes—falsely believed the shots could affect their underlying medical conditions. About 25% were also unaware of how to get a vaccine. A fifth didn't know the shots were free and voiced concerns about having to pay.