Engaging Faith Communities on COVID-19 Vaccination (PPRI)

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Religious Identities and the Race Against the Virus: Engaging Faith Communities on COVID-19 Vaccination

As the U.S. navigates evolving dynamics related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and access, there has been a dearth of hard data to understand the cultural dynamics of this problem, and even less rigorous data available to understand how faith-based interventions might mitigate vaccine hesitancy and resistance.

The PRRI–IFYC Religion and the Vaccine Survey, the largest study conducted to date in this area, reveals that faith-based approaches supporting vaccine uptake can influence members of key hesitant groups to get vaccinated and thus can be a vital tool for the public health community as we work toward herd immunity.

Insights:

• Faith-based approaches are influential among vaccine hesitant communities.
• The positive influence of faith-based approaches on vaccine uptake is particularly important among Protestant Christians, who have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy and refusal.
• Church attendance is currently playing a different role in vaccine uptake among Black Protestants and white evangelical Protestants.
• There are clear opportunities for religious leaders to intervene to encourage vaccination. 

Click here to read full story at PPRI.