Key Themes From Our SurveyAcceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine has plateaued and skepticism holds steady.Most people are both excited and nervous about returning to public events.Hesitant parents are the next hurdle to reaching herd immunity.

Key Themes From Our Survey

Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine has plateaued and skepticism holds steady.Most people are both excited and nervous about returning to public events.Hesitant parents are the next hurdle to reaching herd immunity.

States and businesses are racing to reopen before summer arrives. While Americans are getting used to the idea of returning to public life, demand for the COVID-19 vaccines continues to stall.

The Verywell Health Vaccine Sentiment Tracker shows that overall acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine has plateaued after steadily climbing since the beginning of the year. Acceptance, defined as willingness to get vaccinated or already having been vaccinated,dipped to 74% in our last surveyand now sits at 75%.

Despite the large chunk of the U.S. that remains to be vaccinated, many Americans feel like the pandemic is on a downswing. At least half of our surveyed population now says they feel relatively safe from COVID-19. Those feeling safer aren’t just the fully vaccinated either—47% of those who are not vaccinated do not feel they’re at risk for COVID-19.

More people than ever (33%) now say their lives are only slightly different from before the pandemic. But this return to “normalcy” is stirring up some mixed feelings among Americans.

The data presented in this article is from eleven surveys of 2,000 Americans asked about their thoughts and feelings towards getting the COVID-19 vaccines. We collected the latest data for the week ending on May 7. Our survey sample highlighted four types of respondents based on their answer to whether or not they’d get an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine if it were free and available:Acceptors: Those who wouldagreeto be vaccinatedRejectors: Those whowould not agreeto take a vaccineUndecideds: Those whodon’t knowif they would take a vaccineVaccinated: Those whohave receiveda COVID-19 vaccination

The data presented in this article is from eleven surveys of 2,000 Americans asked about their thoughts and feelings towards getting the COVID-19 vaccines. We collected the latest data for the week ending on May 7. Our survey sample highlighted four types of respondents based on their answer to whether or not they’d get an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine if it were free and available:

The Anxiety of Returning to Normal

Generally, those surveyed are nearly equal parts worried and excited about an overall return to public life. When asked if they’re more worried or excited about being around other people in public, the majority (53%) say they’re both.

Recently-updated mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helped push a return to normalcy along.Fully vaccinated people can now return to everyday life without masks or social distancing, indoors or outside. But these new policies are a leap from previous cautious recommendations.

How Are States Responding to CDC Mask Guidelines?

This sudden switch-up helps explain conflicted feelings. Many are worried about relying on Americans to follow the honor system.Vaccination verificationis a patchwork of different policies across states and there isno plan to enact a system at the national level. Masking guidelines and reopenings have also leftimmunocompromised peopleandfamilies with unvaccinated childrenunclear on what to do next.

Pressure on Parents

The pressure to return to public life leaves parents of unvaccinated children wondering how to navigate the shifting recommendations. As of Monday, May 10, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized thePfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in kids ages 12 through 15, with their parent’s consent. Andvaccine trials are underway in children as young as 6 months old.

What Mask Mandate Changes Mean for Kids

But fear of side effects is holding some parents back. More than half of the parents surveyed (56%) are now more worried about side effects from the vaccines than COVID (44%).

Though parents have real concerns about side effects, the CDC recommends that everyone eligible should get the vaccine. According to the CDC, the side effects for children are the same as those reported for adults, including:

How to Navigate the Decision To Get Your Child Vaccinated Against COVID

Public health leaders anticipated parents' hesitancy and made one crucial change to their vaccine distribution plan: Kids will be able to get the vaccine at their pediatrician’s office during their regular appointments. Having a trusted family doctor answer parents' questions regarding the vaccine will help quell some of these fears.

MethodologyThe Verywell Vaccine Sentiment Tracker is a biweekly measurement of Americans’ attitudes and behaviors around COVID-19 and the vaccine. The survey is fielded online every other week. The total sample matches U.S. Census estimates for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and region. It consists of 1,000 Americans from December 16, 2020, until February 26, 2020, after which the sample size increased to 2,000 per wave.

Methodology

The Verywell Vaccine Sentiment Tracker is a biweekly measurement of Americans’ attitudes and behaviors around COVID-19 and the vaccine. The survey is fielded online every other week. The total sample matches U.S. Census estimates for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and region. It consists of 1,000 Americans from December 16, 2020, until February 26, 2020, after which the sample size increased to 2,000 per wave.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.

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