Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Just 32% of the eligible population in Ohio’s 15 least populous counties are vaccinated, on average, according to an analysis of data from the Ohio Department of Health (Source: “In Ohio and U.S., Vaccine Coverage Lags in Rural Areas,” Ohio Capital Journal, May 20, 2021).
This trails both the statewide and national average (about 48%), adding another piece to a vexing puzzle of vaccine hesitancy.
On May 20, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published research finding the trend holds nationwide: COVID-19 vaccination coverage was lower in rural counties (38.9%) than urban counties (45.7%), according to an analysis of data from adults aged 18-and-up between December 14, 2020, and April 10.
For Ohio, the split was slightly broader: 37.2% in rural counties vs. 45.3% in urban counties, according to the CDC.