MA Residents Split On Vaccine Passport Mandate: Survey Results

About half of Patch readers who responded to a survey about so-called vaccine passports think Massachusetts should not require a document that proves one has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, a split in public sentiment that leaked into other questions about how life might get back to "normal."

Fifty-one percent of the 3,962 who answered last week's survey said Massachusetts shouldn't mandate a vaccine passport, with 41 percent saying it should and over 8 percent saying they didn't know.

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, but rather a broad look at the public's mindset.

Read: 5 Things To Know About Vaccine Passport Debate In MA

The survey showed split feelings for passports, which supporters say would comfort people in getting back to pre-pandemic social settings and critics say would be a major government overstep. Gov. Charlie Baker has indicated he would not support them, but other lawmakers do.

Just over 50 percent of respondents said there should be some sort of document those vaccinated can show for admission to events and venues where public health considerations are paramount. Most of those who thought so said it should be the government that issues such a document.

Still, just over half of those who responded said they would attend places like sporting events, theaters, restaurants, concerts and others without assurances people were vaccinated. Twenty-seven percent said they don't know, while 22 percent said they would not.

There was more support for mandating vaccinations for air travel. Fifty percent said vaccinations should be required before getting on a plane, while 47 percent they should not and 3 percent were unsure.

Some 55 percent of respondents said employers should not be able to require workers to get vaccinated, while 50 percent said K-12 schools should not be able to require students to be vaccinated and nearly 13 percent said they weren't sure. More than 54 percent disagreed with recent decisions by Boston University and Northeastern to require students be vaccinated before returning to campus.

The majority of those who responded said they have received at least one vaccination shot. Sixty-three percent of the 3,626 who answered said they have had at least one dose, while 7 percent said they hadn't yet but intended to. Thirty percent do not intend on getting a vaccination.