A majority of Americans support the mandates requiring vaccines or regular testing announced by President Biden last week in response to rising concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, according to a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday.
And a majority of Americans continue to give the president positive reviews for his handling of the pandemic, although the number has declined.
Just over half — 52 percent — give Biden positive reviews for how he has handled the pandemic, a significant drop from a high of 62 percent in April.
Majorities of Americans also support implementing guidelines for masking and social distancing at the statewide level as well as requiring proof of vaccination for specific activities, including boarding airplanes, working from the office and attending indoor sporting events.
“The delta variant has dampened public confidence that we will get clear of this pandemic. That’s probably playing a role in broad support for mandates and other measures,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Support for these measures is high in both heavily Democratic and Republican states, but the biggest growth has come in blue states. More than six in 10 — 63 percent — of Americans support these measures in their states — which is up from just over half — 52 percent — in July.
Most Americans support the president’s mandate requiring vaccine mandates for key groups. More than 60 percent — 63 percent — of Americans back Biden’s requirement that health care workers be vaccinated and nearly 60 percent — 58 percent — support mandating that federal employees be vaccinated.
And the majority of Americans — 60 percent — back requiring teachers and school staff to be vaccinated. Notably, the difference in support among blue and red states for the various mandates is no more than five points.
The number of Americans very concerned about a family member becoming seriously ill from coronavirus has been on the rise since June. It is currently nearly half — 45 percent, up from 23 percent in June. The highest point for this metric was in January — 60 percent.
While most of those surveyed have received at least one shot, a sizable percentage of anti-vaccine or vaccine hesitancy remains. Fifteen percent of those surveyed said they will not get any vaccine if they can avoid it. The political leanings of the anti-vaccine support are heavily conservative. Of those who expressed anti-vaccine sentiments, more than seven in 10 — 72 percent — self-identify as Republicans or lean toward the GOP.
The telephone poll was conducted Sept. 9-13 with 802 adults in the United States. The survey has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
And a majority of Americans continue to give the president positive reviews for his handling of the pandemic, although the number has declined.
Just over half — 52 percent — give Biden positive reviews for how he has handled the pandemic, a significant drop from a high of 62 percent in April.
Majorities of Americans also support implementing guidelines for masking and social distancing at the statewide level as well as requiring proof of vaccination for specific activities, including boarding airplanes, working from the office and attending indoor sporting events.
“The delta variant has dampened public confidence that we will get clear of this pandemic. That’s probably playing a role in broad support for mandates and other measures,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Support for these measures is high in both heavily Democratic and Republican states, but the biggest growth has come in blue states. More than six in 10 — 63 percent — of Americans support these measures in their states — which is up from just over half — 52 percent — in July.
Most Americans support the president’s mandate requiring vaccine mandates for key groups. More than 60 percent — 63 percent — of Americans back Biden’s requirement that health care workers be vaccinated and nearly 60 percent — 58 percent — support mandating that federal employees be vaccinated.
And the majority of Americans — 60 percent — back requiring teachers and school staff to be vaccinated. Notably, the difference in support among blue and red states for the various mandates is no more than five points.
The number of Americans very concerned about a family member becoming seriously ill from coronavirus has been on the rise since June. It is currently nearly half — 45 percent, up from 23 percent in June. The highest point for this metric was in January — 60 percent.
While most of those surveyed have received at least one shot, a sizable percentage of anti-vaccine or vaccine hesitancy remains. Fifteen percent of those surveyed said they will not get any vaccine if they can avoid it. The political leanings of the anti-vaccine support are heavily conservative. Of those who expressed anti-vaccine sentiments, more than seven in 10 — 72 percent — self-identify as Republicans or lean toward the GOP.
The telephone poll was conducted Sept. 9-13 with 802 adults in the United States. The survey has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
