In a recently released survey by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, it was found that nearly one-third of adult Californians (32%) would decline any additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. The survey gathered responses from 5,088 California adults, children, and teenagers and revealed that those who have not completed the primary vaccine series against COVID-19 cited various reasons for their decision. Among them, 48% believe a vaccine for COVID-19 is unnecessary, 45% are concerned about side effects, and 44% believe the vaccine was developed too quickly. In addition, 22% said they lack sufficient knowledge about the vaccine, while 20% hold general skepticism towards vaccines. This data highlights the ongoing hesitancy and apprehension among a significant portion of California adults regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
Despite the reluctance expressed by some, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends that individuals receive full vaccination against COVID-19. While the vaccine may not entirely prevent virus transmission or contraction, health officials emphasize its effectiveness in protecting individuals from severe symptoms, thus potentially saving lives.
The survey, known as the 2023 California Health Interview Survey Preliminary COVID-19 Estimates Dashboard, offers valuable insights not only on vaccination attitudes but also on other aspects of the pandemic’s impact on Californians. It covers topics such as personal and financial consequences of the pandemic, COVID-19 testing experiences, access to masks, and the prevalence of long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 22% of California adults who completed the primary vaccine series have not received additional doses.
- 66% of California adults living in households with five or more people tested positive for COVID-19, a significantly higher percentage than the 37% observed among adults living alone.
- 28% of California adults who tested positive for COVID-19 experienced symptoms lasting two months or longer.
- Latinx adults showed a higher likelihood of experiencing long-lasting symptoms (40%) compared to white adults (20%) and Asian adults (14%).
- 41% of adults with the lowest incomes experienced symptoms lasting two months or longer, while only 23% of adults with the highest incomes reported the same.
- 33% of California adults do not possess an N95, KN95, or KF94 mask. Moreover, among those without such masks, 16% stated that they would not wear a mask even if advised by public health authorities for COVID-19 protection.
- 61% of California adults who cannot obtain an N95, KN95, or KF94 mask cited cost as the main barrier.
Ninez Ponce, the director of UCLA CHPR and the survey’s principal investigator, highlighted the significance of the dashboard’s insights by stating, “The dashboard offers critical insights into attitudes surrounding COVID-19 in California. It provides valuable insights to guide evidence-based policy decisions as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to vaccination attitudes and experiences, the survey also revealed that 55% of California adults tested positive for COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 47% received their results solely from self-test kits, 25% from clinics or testing sites, and 28% from both self-test kits and testing sites. Todd Hughes, the survey director, noted the potential underreporting of COVID-19 positivity rates due to the reliance on self-test kits, stating, “This may indicate COVID-19 positivity rates are higher than what has been reported.”
To access the complete survey results, please visit healthpolicy.ucla.edu/health-profiles/Pages/2023-COVID-19-Preliminary-Estimates.aspx.
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