Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Older Adults
Key Takeaways:
- In a poster presented at IDWeek 2026, researchers discussed survey results from 3200 US adults, 82.5% of which reported receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Among vaccinated participants, 64.3% reported positive experiences with the vaccine, citing perceived effectiveness, safety, and access.
- The 23.1% of vaccinated participants with negative perceptions reported inadequate effectiveness, low tolerability, and access barriers.
At IDWeek 2026, researchers presented results from a study analyzing perceptions of COVID-19 vaccinations among older adults.
Study Methods
Researchers conducted an online survey of 3200 US adults from YouGov. Participants reported COVID-19 vaccination status and experiences during pandemic (March 2020 to April 2023) and endemic (post-May 2023) periods.
Among those who completed the study, 82.5% reported receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, and participants were asked to express perceptions of the vaccination. Their responses were categorized as positive, negative, or neutral. Positive and negative responses were analyzed to identify common themes and concerns.
COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions
The 64.3% of vaccinated participants with positive perceptions found the vaccine to be effective, tolerable, and accessible.
Conversely, 23.1% of vaccinated participants had negative views of the COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents reported experiencing adverse events or unexpected reactions, skepticism regarding its effectiveness, and access barriers. Furthermore, some participants reported mistrust of the government and health care system, particularly regarding vaccine mandates.
Implications for Managed Care
Most survey respondents received the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly two-thirds of vaccinated participants reported positive perceptions of the vaccine. Those with negative experiences primarily reported concerns with safety, effectiveness, and access.
According to the authors, “These findings highlight the importance of addressing both perceptual and structural barriers to improve vaccination uptake in older adults.”
Reference
Ohlinger K, Caffrey AR, Appaneal HJ. A mixed methods analysis of vaccinated older adults’ perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination during pandemic and endemic periods. Poster presented at: IDWeek 2026. October 21-24, 2026. Washington, DC. P-2117. Accessed October 22, 2026. https://idweek2026.eventscribe.net/fsPopup.asp?PosterID=838014&mode=posterInfo
