Americans Want Vaccine Passports To Fly—But Not To Eat Out—Poll Suggests - Forbes

Topline

Americans are largely divided when it comes to whether showing proof of Covid-19 vaccination should be required for a range of businesses—favoring them more for flying and large events than going to work or a restaurant—a new Gallup poll finds, as the issue of vaccine passports becomes a partisan controversy as inoculations ramp up.

Key Facts

The Gallup poll, conducted April 19-25, found a narrow majority of Americans believe businesses should require proof of vaccination over the next several months only when it comes to air travel (57% in favor of showing proof) and attending events like concerts or sporting events with large crowds (55% in favor).

Most Americans do not want to show evidence of vaccination in order to go to their workplace (55% opposed to proof), stay at a hotel (56% opposed) or dine at a restaurant (60% opposed).

Unsurprisingly, Americans who have been vaccinated or plan to be were the most in favor of them being required—majorities of respondents were in favor of it under every scenario—while no more than eight percent of those who don’t want to be vaccinated think businesses should mandate them under any of the circumstances.

Democrats—who past polling has shown are more likely to get vaccinated than Republicans—are also largely in favor of having to show you’ve been inoculated: majorities of Democrats support requiring evidence in all scenarios, from 85% in favor of showing proof to fly to 62% in favor of showing proof for restaurants.

Republicans, on the other hand, are mostly opposed to it, with only 28% in favor of vaccine passports for air travel and even fewer showing support for the other scenarios in the poll.

Independents are more divided, with nearly half (47%) wanting proof to be required on airplanes and at large events but only 38% in favor of showing them for work, 35% for hotels and 30% for restaurants.

Key Background

Requiring proof of vaccination has emerged as a thorny issue as vaccination rates rise and the U.S. starts lifting restrictions, with Republican leaders coming out strongly against vaccine passports as an allegedly unjust infringement on people’s privacy. A growing number of GOP-led states have enacted measures outlawing vaccine passports, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis most recently signing a law prohibiting them on Monday. That could potentially set up a legal showdown with schools and private businesses that independently require vaccinations, however, with businesses based in Florida like cruise ships already suggesting they’ll ask for vaccine proof and a large number of universities requiring them for students in the fall. 

Tangent

The possibility of vaccine passports and being required to show proof of vaccination has led to a rise in Americans acquiring fraudulent vaccination cards, and state attorneys general have called on platforms like eBay and Shopify to crack down on their sale. 

Further Reading

U.S. Support for Vaccination Proof Varies by Activity (Gallup)

Health Workers Are Getting Fired For Refusing The Covid Vaccine—Here’s Why Office Workers Could Be, Too (Forbes)

Arizona Becomes Sixth State To Ban Coronavirus Vaccine Passports — See The Full List Here (Forbes)

Yale Is The Latest University To Require Students To Get A Coronavirus Vaccine (Forbes)

A Quarter Of Americans Still Unwilling To Get Covid-19 Vaccine, Poll Finds—But Some Could Be Persuaded (Forbes)

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Americans Want Vaccine Passports To Fly—But Not To Eat Out—Poll Suggests - Forbes
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