Apr 26, 2021 - News

1 in 5 Floridians don't want a COVID vaccine

Illustration of 5 vaccine bottles, 4 are empty. 

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

A fifth of Floridians are unwilling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and an additional 16% remain uncertain whether or not they'll get vaccinated, according to a new Morning Consult survey.

Why it matters: Even if we don't reach herd immunity, experts say vaccines are our best shot of returning to a "normal" world.

The big picture: Unusually, Florida is about average for this metric among all states.

  • How we stack up: Mississippi has the most unwilling residents at 30%. Hawaii and Massachusetts have the least, both at 11%.
  • Those unsure or unwilling regarding the vaccine were most worried about side effects and how fast the vaccines were approved.

Point of intrigue: Moms, Fox News viewers and Snapchat users are among the most unwilling to get a shot.

  • Vaccine skepticism is trending upward for Black adults, while white people are getting them at much higher rates than people of color who do want vaccines.

Worth noting: Whether or not Floridians and other Americans want the shot, we've gotten most of the world's supply.

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