According to the latest issue of the Axios / Ipsos coronavirus index, vaccination in the United States has shown signs of collapse.
- Fewer adults than ever now they say they will not take the shot and in the last two weeks there has been a sharp increase in the share of parents who plan to vaccinate their youngest children as soon as it allows.
The big picture: There are many factors that play a role, including the strength of the Delta variant, the return of children to school, and FDA approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine, but the most important drivers appear to be the increase. of the mandates.
- One in three unvaccinated Americans in the survey said FDA approval will make them more likely to get the vaccine. But 43% said their boss who needed vaccinations will make them more likely to do so, compared to 33% a month ago.
What they say: “Schools, organizations, companies, governments that enforce mandates force people to deal with them,” said Cliff Young, president of U.S. Public Affairs at Ipsos. “That’s what’s happening.”
Why it’s important: Ipsos pollster and senior vice president Chris Jackson notes that children under the age of 12, about 48 million people, are now the largest group of unvaccinated people in the country.
By numbers: 68% of parents stated that they have already vaccinated their children or are likely to do so as soon as allowed for their age group. This is the highest share of our survey and an increase of 12 points from 56% just two weeks ago.
- 72% of adults now say they have already been vaccinated. Another 8% say they are likely to take it.
- The 20% who say it is unlikely (6%) or unlikely (14%) understand a new minimum in the survey and down 34% combined in March and 23% two weeks ago.
Between lines: Over the past two weeks, the survey found a general increase in indicators related to government jobs or mandates.
- 19% said their employers require all workers to be vaccinated, up from 16% two weeks ago.
- 54% say employers require all workers to wear masks in the workplace, compared to 51%.
- 22% said their employers had expanded or returned to work policy from home, compared to 17%.
- 40% also reported that their state or local governments demanded that masks be worn in public places, compared to 33% two weeks ago; and another 40% said teachers or government workers in their area were requiring the vaccine, compared to 34%.
People also adjust their own behaviors: 56% saw friends or relatives away from home last week, the lowest rate since April. Half of respondents said they practice social distancing, the highest rate since early May, although only 12% said they canceled travel plans.
- 60% say returning to their normal pre-coronavirus life would pose a high or moderate risk, 53% more than just two weeks ago.
The plot: The proportion of Americans who say they feel hopeful right now has dropped to 34%, from 48% in March, but those who say they feel motivated, energized, inspired, or resilient have risen at least as much.
- This suggests that, instead of giving up, these Americans are re-evaluating their expectations about how quickly the first generation of vaccines can be solved on their own and deciding to do what is needed in the long run.
Methodology: This Axios / Ipsos survey was conducted from 27 to 30 August by Ipsos KnowledgePanel®. This survey is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,071 general population, adults over 18 years of age.
- The sampling error margin is ± 3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire adult sample.