By Meghan Ottolini | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: September 7, 2021 at 10:55 a.m. | UPDATED: September 7, 2021 at 6:07 p.m.
A majority of Americans favor vaccination requirements for travel, restaurant dining, large events, and in work settings, according to a new Gallup poll.
Gallup surveyed more than 3,500 random adults between August 16-22 on a variety of vaccine mandates. Results showed 61% of Americans favor vaccination requirements for air travel, 53% of respondents support vaccine proof for dining out, and 56% of those polled support mandates for their office or work settings.
But researchers warn these numbers show widespread vaccination mandates would come with a lot of pushback.
“In short, if it came to a national referendum, these vaccination proof requirements would win — but with significant opposition,” reports Gallup researcher Frank Newport.
Gallup began polling Americans on hypothetical vaccination requirements in April, and support for showing proof has grown across the board. Just 40% of people polled supported showing vaccination requirements to dine in restaurants back in April. Researchers believe support has grown with the public availability of vaccine doses.
“Those who report having personally been vaccinated — 69% of U.S. adults have gotten at least one dose, according to Gallup’s latest polling — are much more likely in turn to favor vaccination requirements,” Newport reports.
The most jarring split in public opinion runs down party lines: Democrats polled heavily favor vaccination requirements, while less dramatic majorities of Republicans oppose them.
For example, 92% of Democrats polled by Gallup support vaccination mandates to board an airplane, while just 29% of Republicans do. Independents were evenly split, with 50% supporting and 50% opposing.
Canada will implement vaccination travel requirements for citizens this fall, but in the U.S., airlines are only mandating passengers wear masks on planes.
Both Gov. Charlie Baker and Acting Mayor Kim Janey have implemented vaccination mandates for state and city workers. Several restaurants, gyms, and other places of business around Boston began asking for proof of vaccination as the delta variant of coronavirus tore through the area this summer.
Fans attending Boston College’s opening football game last weekend against Colgate were also required to show vaccination.
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