Only half of those surveyed in a recent Department of Health survey indicated they would get the COVID-19 vaccination, while about 24.4% said they probably would not be immunized against the virus that sickened about 25,500 Hawaii residents and killed 404.
Another 25.5% said they were undecided.
The survey of 3,846 respondents was conducted from November 30 to December 14 by Olomana Loomis ISC and Pathfinder, based in New York – before the vaccine became widely available in Hawaii. A summary of the DOH survey said that “anecdotal evidence suggests that acceptance of the vaccine has since increased and will continue to increase over time.”
“The results of this survey confirm what the Department of Health and our partners are hearing on the ground – that there is an interest in Hawaii for the COVID-19 vaccination. As we continue to expand vaccinations to more communities, it is reasonable to expect that many of the undecided ones will choose to be vaccinated as they see more friends, neighbors and other residents of Hawaii receiving their doses, ”said Director of Health, Dr. Libby Char in a press release.
Health officials said the information collected in the survey will help the agency to focus its outreach efforts, especially on reaching ethnic minority groups and those with limited English proficiency.
Other research points:
>> Oahu residents were more likely to be vaccinated the closer to the urban area of Honolulu they lived.
>> In the neighboring islands, Kauai showed high levels of readiness for vaccination, except in the communities on the north coast; Maui had the least acceptance of vaccination; and residents living near Hilo were more likely to vaccinate than residents near Kailua-Kona.
>> Men aged 65 and over who work in the health or education field and have a higher income were more likely to be vaccinated, while women between 18 and 34 years of age with lower income and no more than the degree of associate were the least likely.
>> African Americans, Hispanics, native Hawaiians, Samoans and other Pacific Islanders were also less likely to receive the vaccine, while those of Caucasian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese ancestry were more likely.
The survey also indicated that more than 70% of respondents said they understood the need to prioritize the vaccines available first to those who are most at risk.
The survey “stated that Hawaii residents understand and support the need to allow those at greatest risk of COVID-19 to receive the vaccine first and that we have to wait our turn when the vaccine supply is available,” the press release said. .