COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates: Americans’ Sharp Divide

A deepening divide along political party lines regarding COVID-19 vaccine requirements raises pressing questions about how the U.S. might pursue flagging vaccination rates. A recently released POLITICO-Harvard poll show that Americans are sharply divided about whether most private employers or schools should require COVID-19 vaccines as part of reopening efforts. Per the results, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support vaccination mandates. In this live Q&A, Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel Professor of Public Health and Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis, Emeritus, and Joanne Kenen, Editor-at-Large, Health Care at POLITICO, examined the implications of these political fault lines.

Presented jointly with POLITICO on July 28, 2021.