The social gradient in COVID-19 vaccination intentions and the role of solidarity beliefs among adolescents

•Gender, social origin, and migration background differences in COVID-19 vaccination intention.•The study employs novel large scale data on German high school graduates.•Substantial differences by social origin and migration background in vaccination intentions among adolescents.•Infections and COVID-19 strain do not explain social gradients.•Solidarity beliefs are important drivers of social gradients in COVID-19 vaccination intentions.