Examining the contributions of demographic variables to vaccination uptake among the U.S. aged 50

Vaccine uptake for five conditions harmful to older adults (seasonal influenza, pneumococcus infections, shingles, Covid-19, and pertussis) falls short of universal coverage, and discrepancies further emerge by gender, race, and vaccine target. Drawing on a cross-sectional nationally representative survey of 2623 U.S. adults aged 50+ and who identified as non-Hispanic White, Black or African-American, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), or Hispanic, the current study explored self-reported vaccination uptake and examined differences by vaccine target, gender, age, and racial or ethnic identity. Overall, uptake was highest for influenza and lowest for shingles. Regression analyses revealed age and racial or ethnic identity influenced uptake to a greater extent than gender in the present sample. Odds of uptake across all vaccines tended to increase with increasing age, while differences by race varied by vaccine. Together, the results underscore that factors beyond individual attitudes, such as broader attitudinal, cultural, and structural barriers, affect vaccination decisions.