PPIC Report Explores Demographics of Unvaccinated Californians

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently issued a report examining the demographic trends of who remains unvaccinated against COVID-19 throughout the state. In PPIC’s February statewide survey, more than eight in 10 California adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine with three in four receiving either both doses of a two-dose vaccine or a single-dose vaccine.

While most California adults are vaccinated, more than one in 10 indicate they will definitely not (12 percent) or probably not (2 percent) receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The overwhelming majority of unvaccinated adults (86 percent) further indicate that the omicron variant does not make them more likely to get vaccinated. Although majorities across demographic, political, and regional groups are vaccinated, wide disparities remain.

PPIC finds that older adults are more likely to indicate they have been vaccinated, and younger adults make up a larger share of the unvaccinated population compared to their shares of the adult population. Men, compared to women, make up a disproportionate share of the unvaccinated (59 percent of unvaccinated vs. 49 percent of the adult population).

Further, large partisan differences exist in vaccination rates with Democrats (94 percent) much more likely to be vaccinated than independents (75 percent) and Republicans (65 percent). Compared to their shares of registered voters, Republicans and independents make up larger shares of the unvaccinated registered voters.

As the state approaches its two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 state of emergency in California, PPIC notes the importance of continuing to monitor vaccination rates and trends statewide. Additional information is available here.