University of Houston study shows why communities of color are less likely to receive COVID-19 vaccine

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – A University of Houston study found that a third of Texans are likely to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, and that reluctance is especially true among communities of color.

The study comes as CDC data recently revealed that among those vaccinated in the first month, only 11% were Hispanic, 5% were black, and 6% were Asian.

The results of this statewide survey conducted by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at UH provide some insight into who is most likely to refuse the vaccine.

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While 56% of Texans have bent down to get the shot, here’s a breakdown of those who don’t get the shot.

• Will not be vaccinated: 22%

• Probably will not be vaccinated: 10%

A racial distribution of respondents:

• African Americans: 15% undecided

Here is a breakdown of the reasons for not getting the vaccine:

• Worried about side effects: 66%

• Believe the risks of COVID-19 are exaggerated: 44%

Health experts estimate that between 70% and 90% of the population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, so this study shows that much remains to be done to gain public trust.

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