The predicted uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in USA varies widely based on the attributes of vaccines, according to findings of a study published in The Patient - Patient-Centered Outcomes Research.

In November 2020, 1153 US adults recruited from a marketing panel completed a discrete choice experiment (DCE) on their opinions about receiving COVID-19 vaccination during Phase 2 of the CDCFootnote 1 Vaccination Program in August 2021. The DCE had eight choice tasks, each offering three vaccination alternatives or "no vaccination for 6 months," to assess willingness and unwillingness to undergo COVID-19 vaccination, and the impact of proof of vaccination, vaccination setting, vaccine effectiveness, duration of immunity and the risk of severe adverse events on willingness to be vaccinated.

There was no significant association between the demographics of respondents and their willingness to be vaccinated, but those with less education were significantly more likely to express unwillingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination (p<0.001).

Among the 61% of respondents who planned to receive COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine uptake ranged from 61.70% to 97.75% depending on attributes of the vaccine; 91% of these respondents expressed a preference for a proof of vaccination card, and 75% preferred vaccination in a medical setting. Reduced vaccine effectiveness and the risk of severe adverse reactions had the greatest negative impact on vaccine uptake.

"Even if the first-generation vaccines are efficacious, widely available, and free, predicted uptake is 68.81% by the end of Phase 2 (August 2021), which is well below 75–90% needed for herd immunity prior to the 2021-2022 influenza season," said the author.