By Althea Johnson, University Communications and Marketing
Researchers at the University of South Florida have released results from a nationwide survey that measures attitudes related to the COVD-19 pandemic. The findings include opinions about vaccines, concerns about potential future outbreaks and the role political affiliations play in these results.
Among the findings:
Three years after the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a concern for many Americans. While only 10% of Americans now say that COVID-19 poses a 鈥渉igh risk鈥� to the general public, another 44% say that it does pose at least a 鈥渕oderate risk鈥�. More than half (58%) say that they are at least 鈥渟omewhat concerned鈥� about new variants of the virus, while 61% are concerned about the possibility of a new surge in COVID-19 cases. Nearly two-thirds (61%) say that they are concerned about the potential for experiencing 鈥渓ong-COVID鈥� symptoms if they contract the virus.
Roughly one-third of Americans say that they are still not confident in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, or the guidance provided by public health officials. Just under one third of respondents (31%) say that they are either 鈥渘ot very鈥� or 鈥渘ot at all confident鈥� that COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Additionally, 36% say that they are 鈥渘ot very鈥� or 鈥渘ot at all confident鈥� in 鈥渢he COVID-19 guidance provided by the CDC and public health officials鈥�.
A slight majority of Americans believe that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children. Fifty-seven percent of respondents say that children鈥檚 vaccines are necessary to prevent COVID-19, while 54% say that they are effective and 55% believe that they are safe.
Attitudes about the pandemic 鈥� including vaccination 鈥� continue to be sharply divided based on political identity/affiliation. There were sharp differences in opinion across political groups, with Democrats expressing greater confidence in public health guidelines and vaccine safety/efficacy. In contrast, Republicans were less likely to express concern over the pandemic and were more distrustful of public health officials and vaccine safety/efficacy. A few examples include:
- COVID-19 poses a 鈥渉igh鈥� or 鈥渕oderate risk鈥� to the public: Democrats = 71%; Independents = 50%; Republicans = 40%
- 鈥淰ery鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat confident鈥� that COVID-19 vaccines are safe: Democrats = 88%; Independents = 67%; Republicans = 49%
- 鈥淰ery鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat confident鈥� in public health guidance: Democrats = 89%; Independents = 62%; Republicans = 43%
- 鈥淰ery鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat concerned鈥� about a new surge in cases: Democrats = 81%; Independents = 58%; Republicans = 47%
- 鈥淰ery likely鈥� to receive regular COVID-19 booster shots: Democrats = 61%; Independents = 35%; Republicans = 25%
Misinformation about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines remains widespread. A significant number of Americans express some degree of belief in several statements classified as 鈥淔alse鈥� by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The list below shows the percentage of respondents who said that each statement was either 鈥減robably鈥� or 鈥渄efinitely true鈥�:
- Getting sick with COVID-19 builds better immunity than getting a vaccine 鈥� 55%
- COVID-19 vaccines are causing new variants of the virus to emerge 鈥� 43%
- COVID-19 vaccines contain a 鈥渓ive strain鈥� of the virus 鈥� 42%
- Vaccines can cause you to get sick with COVID-19 鈥� 35%
- A COVID-19 vaccine will cause you to temporarily test 鈥減ositive鈥� for the virus 鈥� 34%
- COVID-19 vaccines can cause infertility 鈥� 24%
- COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips 鈥� 13%
Most respondents who tested positive for COVID-19 did NOT share/discuss their diagnosis on social media, but those who did say that they felt more 鈥渃onnected and supported鈥� as a result. Among active social media users who tested positive for COVID-19, only 27% chose to share/discuss their diagnosis on social media. However, among this group, 82% say that doing so made them 鈥渇eel more connected and supported鈥� when they had COVID-19.
Most respondents who tested positive for COVID-19 say that it was helpful to read about other people鈥檚 experiences on social media, but many say that doing so made them more worried. Among this same group, 34% reported using social media to learn what other people who tested positive had experienced. Among those who did, 94% say that doing so was at least 鈥渟omewhat helpful鈥�, though 36% say that they felt 鈥渕ore worried鈥� about having COVID-19 after reading about it on social media, while 34% said they felt 鈥渓ess worried鈥�.
The survey included a representative sample of 2,500 American adults, fielded Feb. 27-March 9, 2023. Results are reported with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error +/- 2%.
The complete survey results can be found here.