U.S. Support for Vaccination Proof Varies by Activity

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- COVID-19 vaccinations continue to climb in the U.S., but significant vaccine hesitancy persists. Majorities of Americans support businesses requiring people to show proof of vaccination in order to participate in some public activities, but not others.

Specifically, U.S. adults favor mandated vaccination certification for travel by airplane (57%) and to attend events with large crowds, such as concerts or sporting events (55%). However, there is less public support for proving vaccination to go to one's workplace (45%), stay in a hotel (44%) or dine indoors at a restaurant (40%), with majorities opposing it in each instance.

	Favor	Oppose
	%	%
Travel by airplane	57	43
Attend events with large crowds, such as sporting events or concerts	55	45
Go to your worksite to do your job*	45	55
Stay in a hotel	44	56
Dine in at a restaurant	40	60
*Among those employed full or part time.
Gallup panel, April 19-25, 2021

These findings are from Gallup's ongoing COVID-19 probability-based web panel survey, which was conducted April 19-25, as the daily vaccination count in the U.S. began to decline after peaking earlier in the month.

The European Union nations, among others, have resolved to employ a so-called "vaccine passport" system to aid the safe return to normal life. This program provides a digital certificate to those who have been fully vaccinated that allows them to travel inside --- and outside -- their country. The Biden administration has said it will not enact a similar national program in the U.S. Yet, some state governments and private and non-profit businesses in the U.S. plan to implement such a measure as a way to allow safe participation in certain activities. New York already has a voluntary digital passport system, but many Republican governors have expressed their opposition to them, including some who have issued executive orders against them.

The use of government-mandated "passports" does raise legal and constitutional questions involving equal access, privacy and a lack of uniform standards which may not survive likely court challenges. However, legal experts are generally in agreement that private organizations or businesses can require proof of vaccination as a means of protecting their employees' and customers' health -- as well as limiting their own legal liability should someone catch COVID-19 while at their business.

Demographic Differences in Support for Requiring Proof of Vaccination

Support for vaccination proof also varies by current vaccination status and concern about getting the disease.

No more than 8% of those who say they will not get vaccinated favor proof of vaccination to engage in any of the five activities, compared with majorities between 52% and 74% of those who have gotten vaccinated or plan to do so.

Meanwhile, 55% to 77% of those who are worried about contracting the coronavirus approve of mandatory vaccinations before participating in all five public activities, but less than half of those who are not worried about infection approve.

	Travel by airplane	Go to events with large crowds	Go to your worksite to do your job*	Stay in a hotel	Dine in at a restaurant
	%	%	%	%	%
Vaccination status
Have been/Will be vaccinated	74	71	59	56	52
Will not get vaccinated	8	7	6	6	5
Worry about getting COVID-19
Very/Somewhat worried	77	72	66	59	55
Not too/Not at all worried	49	48	36	37	34
*Among those employed full or part time.
GALLUP PANEL, April 19-25, 2021

These relationships are partly influenced by partisanship but are not fully explained by party differences, given that the opinion gaps by vaccination status exceed those by party.

Republicans and Democrats have opposing views on requiring proof of vaccination in various settings, consistent with Republicans' subdued concern about the coronavirus and their lesser willingness to get vaccinated. No more than 28% of Republicans support requiring people to provide proof of vaccination to participate in any of the five activities. At the same time, majorities of Democrats ranging from 62% to 85% favor mandatory vaccine certification to take part in all five.

	Travel by airplane	Go to events with large crowds	Go to your worksite to do your job*	Stay in a hotel	Dine in at a restaurant
	%	%	%	%	%
Party identification
Democrat	85	82	69	66	62
Independent	47	47	38	35	30
Republican	28	25	16	22	19
*Among those employed full or part time.
GALLUP PANEL, April 19-25, 2021

Bottom Line

Although a majority of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, one-quarter remain steadfast in their unwillingness to be immunized. With vaccine supply now outpacing demand in much of the U.S., majorities of the public think those who want to fly on an airplane or attend an event with large crowds should first be required to show proof of vaccination. But the majority are opposed to the same requirement for venues with smaller crowds of people, such as workplaces, restaurants and hotels.

Although the Biden administration says it does not plan to put a vaccine passport program in place in the U.S., individual states, private companies and non-profit organizations are free to devise their own guidelines for requiring vaccines.

Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.