• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
HealthCOVID-19 vaccines

These states have the highest levels of COVID-19 vaccine refusal

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 2, 2021, 3:24 PM ET

Even as the Delta variant causes hospital intensive care units to fill to capacity, there’s strong resistance in some states to getting a COVID-19 vaccine. And a new poll from Morning Consult has ranked the ones where skepticism is the highest.

Nationally, there’s still notable resistance among 30% of the population, according to the study. And while skepticism has shifted downward since March across all demographics, it’s still prevalent among the American population.

Morning Consult spoke with an average of 3,334 adults per state between July 24 and Aug. 23. Resistance levels in states that are in the midst of major breakouts haven’t changed much. The rate of people unwilling to get vaccinated in Florida and Georgia, for example, did not change between June and August (19% and 24%, respectively).

Florida, though, is not even one of the top 10 states with the highest rates of people unwilling to get the vaccine. South Dakota, where 33% of the respondents refuse to get jabbed, had the greatest proportion.

Here’s how the ranking of vaccine unwillingness shook out:

  1. South Dakota – 33%
  2. Idaho – 32%
  3. Alaska – 29%
  4. Oklahoma – 29%
  5. Mississippi – 26%
  6. West Virginia – 26%
  7. Alabama – 26%
  8. Montana – 25%
  9. Missouri – 25%
  10. Tennessee – 25%

Chief reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are concerns about side effects and fears that the clinical trials moved too fast.

Vaccine opposition is highest among Republicans and young adults, Morning Consult said. Some 26% of Republicans surveyed said they were unwilling to be vaccinated, while 24% of people between 18 and 34 said they would not. (Among GOP women, the unwilling rate jumped to 30%.)

Vaccine opposition is lowest in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, according to the poll.

More must-read business news and analysis from Fortune:

  • There’s a huge risk to the U.S. economy right now—and almost no one is paying attention
  • Why we won’t see a housing market crash anytime soo
  • Beijing scrubbed one of China’s most famous actors from the Internet
  • CEOs promised to take pay cuts during the pandemic. Did they?
  • Where Biden stands on student loan forgiveness

Subscribe to Fortune Daily to get essential business stories straight to your inbox each morning.

About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

HealthHealth
It’s not just vaccines. Parents are refusing other routine preventive care for newborns—even protection from severe bleeding and blindness
By Laura Ungar and The Associated PressMarch 21, 2026
4 hours ago
Healthmeal delivery
The 6 Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services of 2026: Nutritionist Approved
By Emily PharesMarch 20, 2026
1 day ago
Healthmeal delivery
Home Chef Meal Delivery Review (2026): Taste Tester Approved
By Christina SnyderMarch 20, 2026
1 day ago
Healthmeal delivery
The 4 Best Frozen Meal Delivery Services (2026): Personally Taste Tested
By Christina SnyderMarch 20, 2026
1 day ago
A podium with a sign reading "save healthcare" stands in front of the U.S. Capitol building.
Healthaffordability
‘Sometimes I don’t even take my medicine’: Americans are choosing between insulin and buying gas following Trump’s ACA cuts
By Ali Swenson and The Associated PressMarch 19, 2026
2 days ago
HealthDietary Supplements
The 4 Best Turmeric Supplements (2026): Expert Approved
By Emily PharesMarch 19, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.