Public Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy

Background:

• Policymakers face challenges in prioritizing groups for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
• Understanding public preferences is crucial for equitable vaccine allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess US adults' preferences for COVID-19 vaccine prioritization.
• To evaluate agreement with the National Academies' equitable allocation framework.

Main Methods:

• Two independent online surveys of US adults (N=4735) were conducted in September 2020.
• Participants prioritized groups for vaccination and ranked prioritization considerations.
• Survey samples were weighted to reflect US sociodemographic characteristics.

Main Results:

• Healthcare workers and adults with serious comorbid conditions were top priorities.
• Broad agreement existed on prioritizing racial/ethnic communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
• Older adults were less likely to prioritize healthy individuals over 65.
• Key considerations included preventing spread, deaths, long-term complications, and protecting frontline workers.

Conclusions:

• US adults largely support the National Academies' prioritization framework.
• Prioritizing disproportionately affected communities and frontline workers is widely endorsed.
• Findings caution against prioritizing solely by age without considering comorbidities or equity.