New longitudinal study uncovers a stark partisan divide in willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine

Republicans in the United States became less accepting of a potential COVID-19 vaccine as the pandemic unfolded, according to new research published in PLOS One. The findings add to a growing body of research that indicates partisan attitudes are contributing to vaccine hesitancy. “In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we already understood that large-scale vaccination efforts would be critical to stemming the spread and bringing about a return to pre-pandemic life,” said study author Ariel Fridman, a PhD candidate at UC San Diego. “And given the worrying news about vaccine skepticism th...