Majority in U.S. Says Public Health Benefits of COVID-19 Restrictions Worth the Costs, Even as Large Shares Also See Downsides
Views of COVID-19 vaccines align with vaccination status, but half or more of both groups say it is hard to make sense of all the information about vaccines
Embed
Attachment Info
- Majority in U.S. Says Public Health Benefits of COVID-19 Restrictions Worth the Costs, Even as Large Shares Also See Downsides
- Majorities say restrictions on activity have hurt businesses, limited people’s lifestyles – but see the public health benefits as having been worth the costs
- Majority favors vaccination requirements for air travel; fewer back vaccine proof for shopping
- 61% say changing COVID-19 recommendations from public health officials made sense, but 51% also say they made them feel less confident in guidance
- White evangelical Protestants, those with no health insurance among least likely to say they have received a COVID-19 vaccine
- Partisans agree that COVID-19 poses major threat to economy, but remain divided on public health threat
- Majority of vaccinated adults view the coronavirus outbreak as a major public health threat
- Ratings of local hospitals’ response to coronavirus outbreak remain very positive
- Republicans and Democrats far apart in ratings of Biden, health officials on coronavirus response
- Narrow majority in U.S. says worst of pandemic is still to come
- Majority of Americans say pandemic restrictions have hurt economy, but think they’ve been worth the costs
- Small shares of those who are not vaccinated think activity restrictions have helped a lot to prevent illness, slow spread of the coronavirus
- Democrats more likely than Republicans to say public health benefits of restrictions on activity have been worth the costs
- Majority in U.S. support requiring proof of vaccination for air travel, oppose requiring it to shop in stores
- Few Republicans favor showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination for shopping or dining indoors
- Most in U.S. back mask rules on public transit, international travel restrictions to address COVID-19
- Majorities of vaccinated adults see a range of policies to address coronavirus outbreak as necessary
- Republicans less likely than Democrats to view policies in place to address coronavirus as necessary
- Sharp decline in frequent mask wearing among Republicans since February
- Vaccinated adults report wearing a mask more often than those who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine
- Majority of Americans remain concerned about unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to others
- Vaccinated adults more concerned about spreading coronavirus than those who have not been vaccinated
- Strong confidence in vaccine research and development process increases
- Vaccinated adults highly confident in COVID-19 vaccine R&D process
- Positive sentiment toward vaccines – as well as some concerns – resonate with majorities of U.S. adults
- 91% of vaccinated adults see COVID-19 vaccines as the best way to protect Americans from COVID-19; those not vaccinated cite a range of concerns
- Republicans’ views on COVID-19 vaccines differ by vaccination status
- About four-in-ten Americans say businesses should require employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine
- Majority of vaccinated adults say they would get a COVID-19 booster shot, if recommended
- Input on vaccine from friends and family differs greatly by vaccination status and partisanship
- Majority of Americans say shifting public health recommendations on the coronavirus made sense, but 63% also say they’ve had a negative reaction
- Large shares of those who are not vaccinated express negative reactions to changing public health guidance
- 82% of Black adults say they know someone who has been hospitalized or died from COVID-19
- 72% of U.S. adults say they know someone who has been hospitalized or died as a result of COVID-19
- 26% of Americans aware ‘very few’ adults in developing countries have access to COVID-19 vaccines
- 26% of Americans say providing COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries should be a top priority
- Among those who say U.S. should provide COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, most say this should be done to limit variant spread in U.S.
- Democrats and Republicans move further apart in views on scientists’ ability to be unbiased
- Most Americans describe the scientific method as an iterative process
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
Research Topics
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center