New Jerseyans Among Most Willing To Get COVID-19 Vaccine: Report

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey has one of the nation's highest rates of people willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a recent report. Thirty-five percent of New Jersey's respondents would get it as soon as possible, and more would want to receive it after some people they knew got it, according to the COVID States Project.

The COVID States Project comprises multiple universities, including Rutgers, in researching aspects of COVID-19 across all 50 states. Between Dec. 16 and Jan. 11, researchers surveyed more than 25,640 people across the nation the same question: If you were able to choose when to get a COVID-19 vaccine, would you get it?

The findings showed the following in New Jersey:

• 3.3 percent were already vaccinated
• 35 percent would get vaccinated as soon as possible
• 24.6 percent would get vaccinated after at least some people they knew
• 19.8 percent would get vaccinated after most people they knew
• 17.3 percent would not get the vaccine

See the full report and findings.

The report also found the following nationwide:

• Vaccine resistance was higher among Black respondents than among white, Latino and Asian respondents.
• Seniors showed the least resistance and greatest enthusiasm for getting vaccinated.
• People ages 25-44 were most likely to say they wouldn't get the vaccine.
• Men reported higher rates of enthusiasm and lower rates of resistance than women.
• Democrats reported higher enthusiasm and less resistance toward the vaccine than Republicans or independents.

State officials set a goal for 70 percent of New Jersey's adult population — 4.7 million people — to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in six months. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses each, so the state would need to administer 9.4 million shots to reach its goal by June.

The New Jersey Department of Health has logged 1,244,224 doses administered
as of noon Friday, putting the Garden State 13.2 percent of the way toward its objective.