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Opinion | Who is the most likely --and unlikely-- to get a COVID-19 vaccine? | Richard Ransom

New research sheds light on exactly who is more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In Wednesday’s Ransom Note: the anti-vaxxers, people who say they're hesitant or won't get vaccinated worry health experts the most. But who and where are they exactly?

New research suggests you don't have to look far. Here's a Census Bureau map of vaccine demand by state, the darker the blue, the less likely people are to say they will get vaccinated. It explains why Mississippi opened up vaccines to 16 and older so fast. They're the least likely in the U.S., just 24%. Only 38% of Tennesseans and 46% of Arkansans.

So that's where they are, but who are they? Last week the Kaiser Family Foundation dug into that. The five least likely groups? Republicans, 35%, followed by white evangelicals,34%, people who live in rural areas, 28%, young people between the ages of 18-29, 26%, and those with no serious health problems, 24%.

The five most likely groups to get vaccinated? Those 65 and older, 81%, democrats, 79%, college grads, 73%, people with a serious health condition, 68%, and urban residents, 66%.

By the way, some of the biggest change toward vaccination has come from Black adults. Now only 17% say they will not get their vaccine. Experts say education is the key. A year ago, a massive public education campaign helped get us to mask up. Here's hoping we see the same effort with vaccines.

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