COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence

Every day more people are becoming vaccinated, but there are many others who have not been vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death. Social workers, as professionals who provide services in a wide range of community settings, and who are trusted messengers, are in a unique position to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence, access, and uptake—particularly among populations with low vaccination rates and higher vulnerability to severe forms of infection.

NASW and the NASW Foundation partnered with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT) at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work in a $3.3 million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded (CDC) initiative (2021-2024) to support social workers and their clients in informed vaccine decision-making. The grant concluded September 29, 2024.


CDC/HHS Funding


This project and website are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3.3 million with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.


U.S. COVID Risk & Vaccine Tracker Covid Act Now has real-time tracking of your community's COVID risk level. Explore how Wisconsin is doing. covidactnow.org

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices implement recommendations for adults over 60

New Online Publication: Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2021

Recent data from CDC’s National Health Interview Survey show that many adults in the U.S. remain unprotected against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). These data show that despite increases in influenza and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccination coverage among adults, adult vaccination coverage remains low and racial and ethnic disparities persist. For this report, CDC analyzed data on influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines among adults aged 19 years and older in 2021. Trends in adult vaccination were examined during 2017–2021.

For this report, CDC analyzed data on adult vaccination in 2021 for influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines. Trends in adult vaccination were examined during 2017–2021. Coverage for all vaccines differed by race and ethnicity with generally lower coverage among Black and Hispanic adults compared with White adults. From 2017-2021, coverage increased for influenza and herpes zoster vaccination, remained stable for pneumococcal vaccination among adults aged 19–64 years at increased risk of disease, and decreased for pneumococcal vaccination among adults aged 65 years and older.

Substantial improvement in adult vaccination uptake is needed to reduce the burden of VPDs nationally. Increasing the proportion of adults who receive recommended vaccines and ensuring equitable access to, and uptake of recommended vaccines is a high-priority public health issue. 

Connect to end COVID-19, overlapping speech bubbles, social workers support informed vaccine decision making

NASW’s national Connect to End COVID-19 campaign, a CDC-funded initiative to support social workers and their clients in informed vaccine decision-making (2021-2024).

Learn about Connect to End COVID-19


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Social workers support informed decision making about important healthcare choices, provide health information from credible sources, and address mental and behavioral health concerns arising as a result of this public health crisis.

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