Pew Research Study: 10 Facts About Americans and the COVID Vaccines

From We are America the Beautiful blog on September 21, 2021

Pew Research conducted a survey of more than 10,000 US adults last month to get their thoughts about COVID. Here are 10 facts that Pew discovered from this survey:

1. As of August 2021, 73% of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and most are fully vaccinated. Americans in rural areas were 14% less likely to be vaccinated compared to Americans who live in urban and suburban areas.

  • All US Adults: 73%

  • Men: 74%

  • Women: 71%

  • White: 72%

  • Black: 70%

  • Hispanic: 76%

  • Asian (English-speaking): 94%

  • Urban and Suburban: 77%

  • Rural: 63%

2. Democrats have been vaccinated in higher numbers compared to Republicans, however, a majority of both parties have been vaccinated.

  • Democrats: 86%

  • Republicans: 60%

3. Older and college-educated Americans in both parties are more likely to have a least one dose of the vaccinated:

  • All 65 and older: 86%

  • 50-64: 73%

  • 30-49: 69%

  • 18-29: 66%

  • Post-graduate degree: 89%

  • College graduate: 81%

  • Some college: 69%

  • High school or less: 66%

4. Black and White Americans are equally vaccinated:

  • Black: 70%

  • White: 72%

5. Vaccination rates vary by religious affiliation. Catholics and those with no religious affiliation have much higher vaccination rates than Protestants.

  • Protestant - Vaccinated: 66%

  • White Evangelical - Vaccinated: 57%

  • White - not Evangelical - Vaccinated: 73%

  • Black Protestant: 70%

  • Catholic - Vaccinated: 82%

  • Catholic White: 79%

  • Catholic Hispanic: 86%

  • Unaffiliated - Vaccinated: 75%

  • Atheist: 90%

  • Agnostic: 84%

  • No affiliation: 69%

6. Confidence in vaccine research and development a major driver of vaccination rates, as well as party affiliation:

At least one dose:

  • A great deal of confidence in the R&D process: 52%

  • A fair amount of confidence: 39%

  • Not too much: 7%

  • None at all: 2%

No vaccination:

  • A great deal of confidence in the R&D process: 3%

  • A fair amount of confidence: 18%

  • Not too much 37%

  • None at all: 41%

Republican:

  • A great deal of confidence in the R&D process: 22%

  • A fair amount of confidence: 33%

  • Not too much: 24%

  • None at all: 21%

Democrat:

  • A great deal of confidence in the R&D process: 54%

  • A fair amount of confidence: 33%

  • Not too much: 8%

  • None at all: 5%

Vaccines are the best way to protect Americans from COVID:

Vaccinated (at least one dose):

  • Very well: 63%

  • Somewhat well: 91%

Not Vaccinated:

  • Somewhat well: 23%

  • Not at all well: 41%

  • Not too well: 77%

People who choose not be vaccinated are hurting the country:

Vaccinated (at least one dose):

  • Very well: 52%

  • Somewhat well: 77%

Not Vaccinated:

  • Somewhat well: 13%

  • Not at all well: 68%

  • Not too well: 87%

There's too much pressure to get vaccinated:

Vaccinated (at least one dose):

  • Very well: 17%

  • Somewhat well: 38%

Not Vaccinated:

  • Very well: 69%

  • Somewhat well: 88%

  • Not at all well: 5%

  • Not too well: 11%

We don't know if there are serious risks from the vaccines:

Vaccinated (at least one dose):

  • Very well: 19%

  • Somewhat well: 54%

Not Vaccinated:

  • Very well: 57%

  • Somewhat well: 81%

  • Not at all well: 5%

  • Not too well: 11%

Public health officials are not telling us everything they know about the vaccines:

Vaccinated (at least one dose):

  • Very well: 17%

  • Somewhat well: 44%

    Not Vaccinated:

  • Very well: 53%

  • Somewhat well: 80%

  • Not at all well: 8%

  • Not too well: 19%

It's hard to make sense of all the information about the vaccines:

Vaccinated (at least one dose):

  • Very well: 17%

  • Somewhat well: 50%

Not Vaccinated:

  • Very well: 35%

  • Somewhat well: 70%

  • Not too well: 30%

8. Most who have been vaccinated say they will get the booster if recommended:

  • They will get the booster: 62%

  • They will not get the booster: 10%

    9. Americans have mixed sentiments about vaccine requirements in public places:

Should people be required to show proof of vaccination when traveling by airplane:

  • Favor: 61%

  • Oppose: 38%

Should college students be required to show proof of vaccination to attend public colleges/universities in person:

  • Favor: 57%

  • Oppose: 42&

Should people be required to show proof of vaccination to attend a concert or sporting event:

  • Favor: 56%

  • Oppose: 44%

Should people be required to show proof of vaccination to eat inside a restaurant:

  • Favor: 50%

  • Oppose: 50%

Should people be required to show proof of vaccination to shop inside stores:

  • Favor: 45%

  • Oppose: 54%

Should businesses require their employees to be vaccinated:

  • Favor: 39%

  • Oppose: 35%

  • Businesses should be neutral: 25%

10. Only 26% of Americans knew that the vaccine is not available in developing countries. Should providing the vaccines to developing countries be a top priority for the US?

Should the US provide vaccines to developing countries:

  • Democrats - High Priority: 39%

  • Republicans - High Priority: 11%

  • Democrats - Low Priority/Not be done at all: 9%

  • Republicans - Low Priority/Not be done at all: 40%

To see the entire report, click on this here.

WAATB BlogBritney AchinWAATB