Skip to Content

Americans On COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements: Yes For Health Care Workers, No For Restaurant Customers, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Majority Support Masking Up Indoors And At Schools

As both the government and the private sector grapple with how to persuade unvaccinated people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, six in ten Americans (60 percent) support requiring health care workers to receive a COVID- 19 vaccine while 35 percent oppose it, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today.

Democrats, 91 - 7 percent, and independents, 58 - 37 percent, support requiring health care workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and Republicans oppose requiring it 58 - 35 percent.

Americans express different levels of support for other specific requirements to receive a COVID-19 vaccine:

  • For government employees, 53 percent support while 42 percent oppose;
  • For universities requiring their students, 48 percent support while 49 percent oppose;
  • For businesses requiring their employees, 45 percent support while 50 percent oppose.

When it comes to requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccination:

  • For passengers on airlines, 52 percent support while 45 percent oppose;
  • For attendees of large sports and entertainment events, 49 percent support while 47 percent oppose;
  • For customers of restaurants, 37 percent support while 59 percent oppose.
"There are varying opinions on who should be required to prove they have had the vaccine. Yes on proof of vaccination for those who fly, a toss-up for people attending large events, and a no for people going to restaurants," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

DELTA VARIANT & VACCINES

A majority of Americans, 58 - 39 percent, say they are concerned about the strain of COVID-19 called the Delta variant.

Roughly 7 in 10 Americans (72 percent) say they have either received a COVID-19 vaccine or plan to receive it, while 21 percent say they do not plan to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The numbers are largely unchanged from a May 27th survey, when 23 percent said they did not plan to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and 72 percent said they had already received it or planned to receive it.

Among those who say they are not planning on receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, 51 percent say the main reason they are hesitant is because they don't think receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is safe, while 41 percent say they are mainly hesitant because they don't think it is necessary to receive a vaccine.

"As far as getting the vaccine, roughly 1 in 5 Americans are digging in their heels and keeping their sleeves rolled down, saying no way to the jab. At the same time, a solid majority see danger looming in the variant," added Malloy.

CDC & MASKS

Americans disapprove, 49 - 44 percent, of the way the CDC is handling mask guidelines.

However, on the CDC's recommendation that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people living in areas with high rates of COVID-19 transmission wear masks indoors, 61 percent think it's a good idea, while 34 percent think it's a bad idea.

On the CDC's recommendation that all public school students, staff, and teachers wear masks in school, regardless of vaccination status, 55 percent think that it's a good idea, while 41 percent think that it's a bad idea. Parents of children under 18 years of age say 52 - 46 percent that it's a good idea and parents of children under 18 years of age who attend public schools say 55 - 43 percent that it's a good idea.

Americans are generally divided on the level of current mask mandates, as 37 percent say there should be more mask mandates, 32 percent say there should be fewer mandates, and 24 percent say that there are the right number of mask mandates.

CLIMATE CHANGE

During a summer that's been marked by numerous wildfires in the West, as well as extreme heat and severe storms across the country, nearly half of Americans (46 percent) say they are worried that they or someone in their family might be affected by an extreme weather event, while 54 percent say they are not worried about that.

Roughly 6 in 10 Americans (61 percent) think that the extreme weather events in the United States over the past few years are related to climate change, while 35 percent think they are not related to climate change.

Americans also say 61 - 36 percent that climate change is an emergency.

1,290 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from July 27th - August 2nd with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

Poll Questions