Lingering Hesitancy: Persistent Uncertainty About the COVID-19 Vaccines Among Previously Vaccinated Individuals.

Introduction: Routine vaccination is an important public health measure to prevent severe illness from COVID-19. Although the determinants of vaccine hesitancy have been explored in prior research, limited information is available on the varying perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines among previously vaccinated individuals. This study investigates how individuals previously vaccinated against COVID-19 might develop hesitancy toward future doses, a concept that the authors define as lingering hesitancy. Methods: The authors conducted an online cross-sectional survey with 560 vaccinated respondents in 6 urban Chicago community areas ( Results: The authors found significantly higher negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccines and higher safety concerns among conservative versus liberal respondents (b=0.37, Conclusions: Most public health efforts aimed at COVID-19 vaccine outreach and messaging have focused on increasing vaccine uptake, thereby targeting unvaccinated individuals. As the focus shifts toward annual COVID-19 vaccinations, it is essential to consider lingering hesitancy among those who have received previous vaccine doses. This article provides a framework for implementing vaccine-messaging campaigns that increase confidence and build trust in routine vaccinations.