Abstract:

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported (July, 2021) that a little less than 67% of citizens in the United States of America have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Unfortunately, President Biden’s 70% goal for vaccinations of U. S. citizens by 4 July 2021 was not achieved. In addition, the number of new infections is still rising particularly in light of the rapidly spreading Delta variant. Consequently, this result has major implications on the plans to reopen schools and higher educational institutions in the weeks ahead. In addition, a very troubling public narrative indicates that citizens’ willingness to get vaccinated is on the decline. Further, recent studies indicate that the decline or vaccination hesitancy is influenced by the lack of healthcare access as compared to other social determinates such as economic instability, community and social contact, and educational status. The research literature indicates that individuals with a higher educational attainment status have a higher life expectancy rate than individuals with a lower educational attainment status. Moreover, the likelihood of individuals with higher educational attainment status appears to have lower levels of vaccination hesitancy. In the U. S., 37% (2020) of the general population have earned only a high school diploma or less formal education. However, 44% (2020) of African Americans have earned only a high school diploma or less formal education. Unfortunately, there are other systemic factors despite educational level that have contributed to the mistrust of the American healthcare system among the latter group. Events such as the Tuskegee Experimental study along with historical and contemporary denial of quality of healthcare has fueled skepticism among many African Americans regarding vaccinations. Therefore, this phenomenon appears to be having a far more negative impact on vaccination rates among African American families and youth in general as compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the U. S. The initial research questions that were generated for the current study are: 1.) To what extent are there significant differences attributable to historic and contemporary social determinates relative to vaccination hesitancy among underserved African American families and youth by education status? 2.) To what extent are there significant differences attributable to environmental and economic determinants relative to vaccination hesitancy among underserved African American families and youth by educational level? 3.) To what extent are there significant differences attributable to psychosocial determinants relative to vaccination hesitancy among African American families and youth by education status? A correlational research design was developed for the current study. Secondary samples of data from African American households (N = 3,977) were generated from the Household Pulse Survey published by the U. S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) in collaboration with the U. S. Census Bureau. Sub-samples were disaggregated for the Northeast, Far West, Midwest, and the Southern regions of the U. S. Samples of data were analyzed using the forward stepwise Multinominal Logistic Regression Analysis method. Major findings indicated that African American families and youth had similar attitudes related to vaccination hesitancy despite their differences in socioeconomic and educational status.

Keywords:

Covid-19, education status, vaccination hesitancy, social determinants of health.