Cross-sectional analysis finds lower COVID-19 vaccination rates in US counties with high income inequality, highlighting the role of socioeconomic equity in public health.
We examine the effects of income, income inequality, and education on COVID-19 vaccination rates across counties in the United States. Using county-level data, we find that higher household income is associated with greater vaccine uptake, while greater income inequality reduces vaccination rates. Standardized math test scores, used as a proxy for science literacy, are also positively related to vaccination, as is the share of adults with some college education. These results highlight the importance of socioeconomic and educational factors in shaping vaccine uptake and suggest that policies aimed at improving income security and educational attainment may strengthen public health responses in future crises.
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Ang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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