HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A new study ranked Virginia among the states most likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine.
QuoteWizard based their predictions on the existing rate of vaccinated adults, their access to healthcare, and public opinion to help estimate the rate at which the vaccine will be received.
“Especially this year with COVID-19, we’ve been very focused on the economic factors and impacts that COVID-19 has had on our healthcare systems,” said the study’s Senior Research Analyst Adam Johnson.
Johnson sorted the states based on the vaccination rates for adults which includes the flu vaccine, the DPT vaccine, and HPV vaccination.
Nationwide, 40% of Americans are up to date on their vaccinations, according to the study.
Virginia was found to have a 46% rate of adults with age-appropriate vaccines, the seventh highest rate in the nation. Over the last five years, the Commonwealth had a 9.5% increase in adult vaccinations.
Nevada, Wyoming, and Georgia ranked at the bottom of states, while Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maryland top the list.
“States that have great access to healthcare and are able to inoculate a high rate of people is likely a good indicator of how well states and the country will adopt the COVID-19 vaccine,” he explained.
A Gallup poll conducted in October 2020 also found 42% of Americans would not take a COVID-19 vaccine.
On Friday, the Virginia Department of Health announced that 480,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines will arrive by the end of the month.
Healthcare employees and individuals who work and live inside long-term care facilities will be vaccinated first, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The health department estimated there are up to 500,000 people included in the top tier throughout the Commonwealth.
On Tuesday, 75 people were tested for COVID-19 outside the Eastern Henrico Health Department. Community Test Lead Tracey Avery-Geter said it was the district’s 82nd testing event since the pandemic started.
“We have quite a bit of experience with these and hope to use some of that knowledge towards the vaccination events,” Avery-Geter stated.
Avery-Geter, who is also a nurse practitioner supervisor, will be among the first in Central Virginia to receive her vaccination against the virus.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “Because I really want to be that advocate for the community and healthcare workers, to say, ‘It’s fine. We are going to be okay.’ We need this so we can get back to our regular life.”
Health experts believe vaccination efforts will continue into Summer 2021.