A recent study challenges the common perception that Black patients are more likely to refuse vaccines compared to White patients. Presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, the research indicates that non-White patients showed less vaccine hesitancy than their White counterparts.
Albert Wu, MD, lead author of the study, highlighted these unexpected findings: “We found some surprising results from our study, including that minority patients were less likely to demonstrate vaccine hesitancy.” He emphasized the importance of identifying vaccine-hesitant groups to protect immunocompromised individuals and others at risk within communities.
The study was conducted in an allergy clinic primarily serving Brooklyn, New York City. This area includes several zip codes with lower median household incomes and lower vaccination rates. The patient population is predominantly immigrant-based. The ethnic composition of the study included White (37.2%), Hispanic (31.6%), Asian (18.9%), and Black (12.1%) participants.
Out of 338 new patients surveyed between March 2023 and February 2024, 39 individuals refused both influenza and COVID vaccines. The refusal rate among ethnicities was as follows: White at 17.5%, Hispanic at 11.4%, Asian at 4.76%, and Black at 4.9%. The study found no significant association between vaccine refusal rates and gender, age, or language but did find ethnicity significant.
Mary Lee-Wong, MD, senior author of the study and ACAAI member, noted that mistrust of authority influenced a portion of vaccine-hesitant patients: “While public health campaigns with generalized messages are effective, building a relationship of trust and partnership with patients can be extremely impactful.”
This research underscores the need for targeted efforts across all demographics to improve vaccination rates.
