Covid-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence Survey

In April 2021, The Rockefeller Foundation launched a $20 million U.S. Equity-First Vaccination Initiative that aims to increase vaccination uptake among communities of color. The initiative supports equity-first models to improve vaccine access and information led by community-based organizations.

To inform the initiative strategy, The Rockefeller Foundation commissioned HIT Strategies, a leading Millennial & Minority-owned public opinion research firm, to survey African American and Latinx adults in the 5 cities – Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Oakland, CA; and Newark, NJ – to understand current issues facing BIPOC communities.

The initial poll uncovers important new information about contemporary health care issues facing African Americans and Latinx adults that may impact their ability or desire to get vaccinated. The survey found that while an overwhelming majority of survey respondents are willing to get the Covid-19 vaccination when available, barriers to access and present-day discrimination in medical settings must be addressed.

Taking this forward, The Rockefeller Foundation’s Equity-First Vaccination Initiative aims to enable more in-depth analyses of the problem and invest in novel pilots that address systemic issues impacting the health of communities of color across the country.