I guess the question might be how many of those people already had at least their 1st shot or were scheduled up for such. In my county I think the vast majority of people getting COVID-19 vacc shots got them @ the “mass clinics”, at which you have to have an appointment (by phone, online, through PCP, etc. A few weeks ago, though, most people under age 65 in my State were still not eligible.
That said, most counties near me, in-state and in adjacent states, are showing pretty steep declines in shots administered, despite recent opening up of shots to a much wider demographic, and plenty of supply. Factors discussed above: lack of a feeling of urgency, convenience*, and the psychological effect of the J&J pause, surely all are playing a role.
*Something else too: I don’t have a firm number, but, a LOT of the teachers at the parochial school my wife teaches at had the strong “fatigued” reaction the day after their 2nd shot; some had it for 2 days. At least several were “out” for a 1/2 a day or more. How much of this may have been psychosomatic I don’t know — I have my suspicions.
I suspect this info. “really got around” to and in and beyond the group of parents with high school or younger kids, almost all of whom (under 65) would just now be becoming eligible for vaccinations.
So, is the average under 65 weighing “likely” (it might seem to them) feeling crappy a day or two, maybe in bed a day / missing work or a planned activity, plus some small probability adverse risks and unknowns, vs. very likely eventually getting an asymptomatic COVID-19 case they may not spread, or even notice, and, oh, BTW, their elders are vaccinated.
????
One thing that I suspect with the teachers, is that because it is a free day off if you claim a vaccine reaction, many view it as a perk they don’t want to pass up.
They like to play hooky too.
The big drop off in first shots was quite tightly correlated with the J&J pause. The bad press may have been that powerful.
It was also right around when eligibility was opened to all adults. I thought expanding eligibility would bring a surge of newly eligible folks who had been waiting.
The flip side however, is that might have marked the exhaustion of priority people waiting for shots - who had particular reasons to be be motivated for vaccination.