Chloe Ramirez
There is a notable trend of mothers, especially white mothers, being hesitant to vaccinate their children, particularly against COVID-19 and in school settings. This is concerning because mothers often make health decisions for their families and play a significant role in influencing school health policies through parent-teacher organizations and activist groups. While the specific reasons behind this trend are unclear, it may be attributed to factors such as political affiliation, misinformation, and personal beliefs about the risks and benefits of vaccines. Additionally, there are racial disparities in childhood vaccination rates, with Non-Hispanic White children having the highest vaccination rates compared to other racial groups. These disparities may be influenced by factors such as health insurance coverage and state-level variations. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for promoting vaccine uptake and ensuring equitable access to vaccinations for all children.
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What You'll Learn
- Political leanings: Republican mothers are more likely to oppose child vaccinations
- Education: Mothers are usually the ones making health decisions for their families
- Race: White children have the highest rate of vaccination
- Income: Children with private insurance coverage are more likely to be vaccinated
- Gender: Fathers are less likely than mothers to oppose child vaccinations
Political leanings: Republican mothers are more likely to oppose child vaccinations
While the COVID-19 pandemic has increased vaccine hesitancy among the general public, Republican mothers are significantly more likely to oppose vaccinating their children. This is particularly evident in the context of school-required vaccinations, where nearly half of White Republican/Republican-leaning mothers (54%) express opposition. This is in stark contrast to fathers, with only 17% stating they do not intend to vaccinate their children and 20% opposing school-required vaccinations.
Several factors contribute to this disparity. Firstly, mothers, especially those who are White and Republican, face pressures as family health managers. They often make health decisions for their partners and children, and their concerns about vaccine risks may be influenced by the individualistic and consumeristic nature of the medical system, which emphasises personal responsibility for health. Additionally, Republican mothers may be influenced by anti-vaccine activists who spread misinformation about vaccine risks and advocate for limits on school vaccine requirements.
The political leanings of Republican mothers also play a significant role in their vaccine opposition. More than four in ten Republicans and Republican-leaning independents oppose requiring children in public schools to receive certain vaccinations, such as those for measles, mumps, and rubella. This shift in opinion has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Republican mothers increasingly believing that parents should be able to opt out of childhood vaccinations.
Furthermore, Republican mothers' opposition to childhood vaccinations is concerning due to their influence on school policies. Through their involvement in parent-teacher organisations and online activist groups, mothers have led efforts to resist immunization requirements. This dynamic is exemplified by Renee, a White and self-identified strong Republican mother, who stated that her husband would follow her lead on whether to get vaccinated.
While vaccine hesitancy among Republican mothers is notable, it is important to mention that overall, most vaccinated Republicans who haven't received the COVID-19 booster attribute their decision to believing they don't need it or that its benefits aren't worth it. This sentiment is shared by a majority of the public, who still acknowledge the benefits of childhood vaccines, even if they are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine specifically.
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Education: Mothers are usually the ones making health decisions for their families
It is well-known that mothers are usually the ones making health decisions for their families. A 2014 Kaiser Family Foundation survey showed that mothers often make health decisions not only for their children but also for their partners. This dynamic was also confirmed by a mother of three, who said that while her husband "wears the pants in the family", she tells him "which ones to pick out and wear".
Mothers also play a significant role in schools through their leadership in parent-teacher organizations and online activist groups. They have often led efforts to influence school policies based on what they think is best for their children. This includes efforts to resist immunization requirements. For instance, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced that it would require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend school once the vaccines became widely available for children. This has sparked concerns among some mothers, with over a third of all mothers (34%) and nearly half of White Republican or Republican-leaning mothers (47%) saying they do not plan to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.
The gender disparity in these views is surprising, given that women are usually more inclined than men to follow medical advice. For example, women are less likely to smoke cigarettes and drink heavily and are more likely to visit the doctor when sick and take medication as prescribed.
In terms of racial disparities, non-Hispanic White children had the highest rate of vaccination at 75.5%children of multiple races or some other race (non-Hispanic) at 72.8% These disparities are also evident at the state level. For instance, in Michigan, African-American/Black children were nearly 30 percentage points less likely to have received the full schedule of recommended vaccinations compared to White children.
Socioeconomic factors also play a role in vaccination rates. Children with private health insurance coverage had the highest rate of vaccination coverage at 80.3%children with any Medicaid coverage had a lower vaccination rate, with a difference of 14 percentage points.
Political affiliation is another factor influencing vaccination rates. Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to oppose vaccine requirements, with 58% of White evangelical Protestants saying that parents should be able to decide not to vaccinate their children, even if it poses health risks to others. This represents a shift from 2019 when 77% of White evangelicals backed vaccine requirements for public school children. Additionally, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, far fewer Republican parents (19%) than Democratic parents (90%) said they would vaccinate their young children (under age 12) once the vaccine was approved for that age group.
Overall, while mothers play a crucial role in making health decisions for their families, there are complex factors at play that influence vaccination rates, including gender, race, socioeconomic status, and political affiliation.
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Race: White children have the highest rate of vaccination
While there is a general trend of positivity towards childhood vaccinations in the US, there are still some groups that are less likely to vaccinate their children. One notable example is white women, specifically those who identify as Republican or Republican-leaning independents. According to a Washington Post article from 2021, almost half of white mothers in this political category stated that they did not plan to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 (47%), and over half opposed school-required vaccinations (54%). This is in contrast to fathers of any political affiliation, who were significantly less likely to oppose school-required vaccinations (20%).
This trend is also reflected in the rates of COVID-19 vaccination among adults, with a higher proportion of unvaccinated adults identifying as Republican or Republican-leaning (70%). Furthermore, unvaccinated adults are more likely to be women (57%). This gender disparity is surprising given that, generally, women are more inclined than men to follow medical advice and engage in healthy behaviours.
However, it is important to note that the relationship between race, gender, and vaccination rates is complex and influenced by various social and economic factors. For example, children with private health insurance coverage had a higher rate of vaccination coverage (80.3%) compared to those with Medicaid coverage (66.2%). Additionally, racial disparities exist, with Non-Hispanic White children having the highest rate of vaccination at 75.5%, followed by children of multiple races or some other race (non-Hispanic) at 72.8%, Hispanic/Latino children at 69.9%%, and African-American/Black children at 66.5%.
In summary, while white women, particularly those with certain political affiliations, may be less likely to vaccinate their children, it is important to consider the influence of other factors such as education, income, and access to health care. Additionally, the overall positive view of childhood vaccinations in the US varies across states and is subject to change over time.
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Income: Children with private insurance coverage are more likely to be vaccinated
While there is some evidence that white women are less likely to vaccinate their children, with nearly half of White Republican or Republican-leaning mothers opposing school-required vaccinations, the data is not entirely clear-cut. Mothers' vaccine opposition is concerning, given their role in making health decisions for their families and their influence on school policies.
However, focusing on the relationship between income and vaccination rates, we see that children with private insurance coverage are more likely to be vaccinated. This is a notable trend observed across various states. In 35 states, children with any Medicaid coverage were less likely to be vaccinated compared to those with private coverage alone. The gap ranged from 1.5 percentage points in Nebraska to a significant 23.4 percentage points in Colorado.
Nationally, during 2020-2021, children with private coverage had the highest vaccination rate at 80.3%. In contrast, children with any Medicaid coverage had a vaccination rate of 66.2%, a notable 14-point difference. These disparities are concerning, as they indicate that income and insurance status play a role in vaccination rates.
Further supporting this, a study examining the insurance status of individuals using public clinics found that about 16% of immunization patients were underinsured. A more recent analysis of data from South Carolina and California showed an even higher rate of underinsurance, with 44-63% of children vaccinated in public health clinics falling into this category.
These findings highlight the impact of insurance coverage on immunization rates and suggest that financial barriers may hinder access to vaccinations for certain populations. It is important to address these disparities to ensure equitable access to essential vaccinations for all children, regardless of their family's income or insurance status.
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Gender: Fathers are less likely than mothers to oppose child vaccinations
A survey by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers found that fathers are less likely than mothers to oppose vaccinating their children. The survey showed that only 17% of fathers did not plan to vaccinate their children, compared to over a third of mothers (34%). Similarly, only 20% of fathers opposed school-required vaccinations, while a third of mothers did (33%).
This gender disparity is surprising, given that women are generally more inclined to follow medical advice. For example, women are less likely to smoke cigarettes and drink heavily and are more likely to visit the doctor when sick and take medication as prescribed.
Mothers' opposition to vaccines is particularly troubling because they often make health decisions for their partners and children and play a significant role in schools through parent-teacher organizations and online activist groups. In recent years, mothers have led efforts to resist immunization requirements, which could lead to conflicts over coronavirus vaccine mandates in schools.
The lingering maternal reluctance towards vaccines could be due to societal expectations and the pressure on mothers to be perceived as good parents, leading them to play it safe and avoid vaccinations.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2021 Washington Post article, more than a third of all mothers (34%) and nearly half of white Republican or Republican-leaning mothers (47%) do not plan to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. This is compared to only 17% of fathers. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey also found that those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are more likely to be women than men, with more than half (57%) being women.
Some white mothers feel more capable of controlling the risks of COVID-19 than the vaccine's risks. Others believe that vaccines cause autism, with 19% of Republicans and Republican leaners holding this view compared to 4% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
Yes, there are racial disparities in childhood vaccination rates. Non-Hispanic White children had the highest rate of vaccination at 75.5%, followed by children of multiple races or some other race (non-Hispanic) at 72.8%, Hispanic/Latino children at 69.9%, and African-American/Black children at 66.5%. In Michigan, African-American/Black children were nearly 30 percentage points less likely to be vaccinated than White children.
