KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
KFF’s Kaiser Health News (KHN) and Guardian US have won the National Press Club’s top award for online journalism for their “Lost on the Frontline” investigation. The year-long project documented the lives of more than 3,600 health care workers in the U.S. who died after contracting covid-19 on the job.
The Press Club’s Joan M. Friedenberg Online Journalism Award recognizes “the best journalism that uses online technology to provide a more compelling report than a print or broadcast story alone.” Journalists at KHN and the Guardian developed a searchable online database of those who died and used that as the jumping off point for a series of investigative reports that provided a window into the workings – and failings – of the American health care system during the pandemic.
They found that many of the deaths could have been prevented. Widespread shortages of masks and other personal protective gear, a lack of covid testing, weak contact tracing, inconsistent mask guidance by politicians, missteps by employers and lax enforcement of workplace safety rules by government regulators all contributed to the increased risk faced by health care workers.
Among the key findings was that two-thirds of deceased health care workers for whom the project has data were people of color, revealing the deep inequities tied to race, ethnicity and economic status in America’s health care workforce. Lower-paid workers such as nurses, support staff and nursing home employees were more likely to die than physicians were.
More than 100 journalists contributed to the project. They filed public records requests, combed through governmental and private data sources, scoured obituaries and social media posts, and confirmed deaths through family members, workplaces, and colleagues.
This is the second time in four years that KHN has won this National Press Club award. The newsroom, an operating program of KFF, won in 2018 for an investigation into the booming orphan drug business. The Lost on the Frontline project also has been recognized with awards from the News Leaders Association, World Association of News Publishers and the NIHCM Foundation, just a few of the many awards and honors that KHN has received for its journalism.
About KFF and KHN
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
About Guardian News & Media
Guardian US is renowned for its Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, and for other award-winning work, including The Paradise Papers. Guardian US has bureaus in New York, Washington, New Orleans and Oakland, California, covering the climate crisis, politics, race and immigration, gender, national security and more.
Guardian News & Media (GNM), publisher of theguardian.com, is one of the largest English-speaking newspaper websites in the world. Since launching its U.S. and Australian digital editions in 2011 and 2013, respectively, traffic from outside of the U.K. now represents over two-thirds of The Guardian’s total digital audience.
KFF’s Kaiser Health News Wins NABJ Award for Excellence in Radio Journalism for a Story About Teaching Children to Cope with the Constant Threat of Gun Violence in Their Communities
The National Association of Black Journalists has recognized KFF’s Kaiser Health News and two of its editorial partners with a 2021 “Salute to Excellence” award for a radio story about how children are taught to cope and survive in communities beset by gun violence.
Anthony and St. Louis Public Radio photojournalist Carolina Hidalgo explored the hiding places where children go when gunfire erupts in their neighborhoods, where random bullets are a constant danger. Anthony interviewed more than two dozen parents and caregivers who told her how kids hide underneath beds, in basements and dry bathtubs, waiting for gunfire to stop. She learned how teachers drilled the preschoolers on how to drop to the ground when a teacher yelled “Dora the Explorer.” Some families do such drills at home. They take safety steps such as positioning couches to serve as protection from stray bullets or watching TV on the floor to stay out of the line of fire.
The story explored the mental health toll of living in constant fear, as well as potential long-term health effects such as heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and stroke that such “adverse childhood experiences” can fuel. The story also was part of a package that won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion this year from the Radio Television Digital News Association, one of many awards and honors that KHN has received for its journalism.
The Salute to Excellence Awards are part of NABJ’s efforts to recognize journalism “that best covers the Black experience or addresses issues affecting the worldwide Black community.” The competition is open to all media organizations and individuals involved in print, broadcast, and all forms of digital journalism. Entries are judged on content, creativity, innovation, use of the medium and relevance to the Black community.
About KFF and KHN
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
About St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Public Radio is an award-winning news organization and NPR member station, providing in-depth news, insightful discussion, and entertaining programs to a half-million people per month on air and online. With a large, St. Louis-based newsroom and reporters stationed in Jefferson City and Rolla, Missouri, and Belleville, Illinois, the station’s journalists find and tell important stories about communities across the region and help people become deeply informed about the issues that affect their lives. Broadcasting on 90.7 KWMU-FM in St. Louis, 90.3 WQUB in Quincy, Illinois, 88.5 KMST in Rolla and 96.3 K242AN in Lebanon, Missouri, and sharing news and music online at stlpublicradio.org, St. Louis Public Radio is a member-supported service of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
About NPR
NPR, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is widely known for its rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling that connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in-person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding.
On November 19, 2021, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), which includes a broad package of health, social, and environmental proposals supported by President Biden. The BBBA includes several provisions that would lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and private insurance and reduce drug spending by the federal government and private payers.
The provisions would allow the federal government to negotiate prices for some high-cost drugs covered under Medicare; require inflation rebates to limit annual increases in drug prices in Medicare and private insurance; cap out-of-pocket spending for Medicare Part D enrollees along with other Part D benefit changes; limit monthly copays for insulin to $35 for people with Medicare and private insurance; improve coverage of adult vaccines in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP; and repeal the Trump Administration’s drug rebate rule.
These provisions would take effect over the next several years, beginning in 2023. The BBBA, including these provisions, may be modified as the Senate considers the legislation.
County-Level Analysis Finds ACA Premiums are Falling in Many Areas of the Country, Though Changes Vary by County and Type of Plan
In Many Counties, Tax Credits Would Cover the Premiums for a Silver Plan for Low-Income Residents and for a Bronze Plan for Those with Somewhat Higher Incomes
Premiums for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace benchmark silver plan are decreasing 3.1 percent on average across the country – the fourth year in a row that benchmark premiums have fallen – though the changes vary by county, a new KFF county-by-county analysis finds.
The benchmark plan premiums are important because they are used to determine the tax credits available to people who buy their own insurance through the Marketplaces. What people would have to pay in premiums, if anything, will depend on where they live, the plan they choose, and their age and income.
An interactive map illustrates changes in premiums after tax credits for the lowest-cost bronze, silver and gold plans by county for a 40-year-old at varying income levels. Key findings include:
• Across counties, average premiums before tax credits fell 1.8 percent for the lowest-cost silver plan and 4.1 percent for the lowest-cost gold plan. Average premiums changed little for the lowest-cost bronze plan (up 0.3%).
• Due to this year’s American Rescue Plan Act, people with incomes up to 150% are eligible ($19,320 for an individual and $39,750 for a family of 4) for a silver-level plans without a monthly premium and with additional cost-sharing subsidies to lower their deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses. In two-thirds of counties nationwide, tax credits also would cover the full premium for the lowest-cost silver plan for a 40-year-old earning $20,000 a year (155% of the federal poverty level). These enrollees may have to pay a nominal amount for coverage in some counties because the tax credits only apply to “essential health benefits.”
• In a third of counties, tax credits would cover the full cost of the lowest-premium bronze plan for a 40-year-old earning $35,000 a year (272% of the federal poverty level). Such plans typically have high cost-sharing requirements but provide substantial protection in case of severe illness.
The analysis examines data from insurer rate filings to state regulators, state exchange websites and HealthCare.gov to assess how premiums are changing at the county level. This year’s American Rescue Plan Act temporarily made the tax credits more generous for 2021 and 2022, though they are set to expire in 2023.
The ACA open enrollment period for the federal Marketplace and most state Marketplaces began Nov. 1 and ends on Jan. 15. KFF’s updated Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator allows consumers to estimate their ACA premiums after any tax credits if they buy coverage on their own in the ACA marketplaces. Consumers also can search our collection of more than 300 Frequently Asked Questions about open enrollment, the health insurance marketplaces and the ACA. Most questions are also available in Spanish.
On December 1, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, an abortion case that could effectively overturn Roe v. Wade. While the Supreme Court is deciding on the future of abortion, the FDA is currently reviewing a policy that could also affect the availability of medication abortion – the most common method of terminating a pregnancy in the first 10 weeks.
Mifepristone, one of the two drugs taken for medication abortion, cannot be dispensed by retail pharmacies like most other medications; rather, pregnant patients can only obtain the drug directly from an abortion provider even though the medications are typically taken at home. The FDA has suspended its enforcement of this in-person dispensing requirement during the pandemic health emergency to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in health care settings. However, 19 states ban or restrict the use of telehealth for abortion. Five states completely ban telehealth for medication abortion, while the other 14 states require the physical presence of the prescribing clinician to receive the medication
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, many states will quickly move to restrict or ban abortions. People seeking an abortion who live in those states may be able to access medication abortion via telehealth if their state does not restrict telehealth abortions and if they are within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is an ongoing research project tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. Using a combination of surveys and qualitative research, this project tracks the dynamic nature of public opinion as vaccine development and distribution unfold, including vaccine confidence and acceptance, information needs, trusted messengers and messages, as well as the public’s experiences with vaccination.
Key Findings
As 2021 comes to an end and the country faces another new variant and rising infection rates, a majority of the public now say they are frustrated about the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S., and the share who say they are optimistic has decreased eighteen percentage points since January. At the same time, the share of fully vaccinated adults who report receiving a booster dose has more than doubled in the last month, with one-fourth of fully vaccinated adults (16% of all adults) reporting receiving a COVID-19 booster dose.
Older adults are most likely to report receiving a booster dose, with at least one-third of Black adults, Hispanic adults, and White adults over the age of 50 saying they have already received a booster dose and many more saying they plan to get a booster dose soon. This suggests that the initial concerns some Black and Hispanic adults had with the COVID-19 vaccine may have dissipated. Yet, among those who are fully vaccinated, younger Black adults seem slightly more hesitant to get a booster dose with three in ten younger Black adults saying they will not get an additional shot, compared to one in eight younger Hispanic adults and White adults.
Partisanship continues to play an outsized role in initial vaccination uptake as well as intention to get a booster dose. Four in ten Republicans remain unvaccinated and smaller shares of vaccinated Republicans – especially older Republicans – report receiving a booster dose. Seven in ten unvaccinated adults say they aren’t confident that the vaccines are safe for all adults.
Roughly one-third (36%) of those who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant remain unvaccinated. One reason why this population may be less likely to get vaccinated is because nearly six in ten (57%) say they are not confident the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women.
Three in ten workers now report that their employer has required them to get the COVID-19 vaccine even as the share of the public that support the federal government requiring employers to mandate vaccines has dropped five percentage points since October. More than half of employees who work in workplaces with 100 employees or more (the size of companies covered in this federal requirement) either say their employer already requires vaccination (36%) or say they want their employer to require it (17%). Four in ten (41%) say they do not want their employer to require COVID-19 vaccination.
Majorities of Black adults and Hispanic adults, two groups that have reported disproportionate impacts of the coronavirus throughout the pandemic, say the pandemic has had a negative impact on their ability to afford many household expenses. People in these groups are also more likely to report that they feel the government has not done enough to help either their communities or people like them.
Trends In COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions And Uptake
The latest data from the KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor shows that one in four adults remain unvaccinated with one in seven (14%) continuing to say they will “definitely not” get vaccinated (a share that has held relatively steady since December 2020) and an additional 3% saying they will only do so if they are required for work, school, or other activities. Nearly three-quarters of adults say they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and another 2% say they will get vaccinated “as soon as possible,” similar to the shares who reported the same last month. Another 6% say they want to “wait and see” before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
As reported previously, while majorities across all demographic groups have received a COVID-19 vaccine, there are still disproportionate shares of certain groups that remain unvaccinated. A recent KFF analysis found partisanship is now the strongest self-identifying predictor of being unvaccinated and a quarter of Republicans (26%) continue to say they will “definitely not” get a COVID-19 vaccine, similar to the shares of uninsured adults and White Evangelical Christians who say the same. There are also gaps in vaccine uptake between college graduates and those without a college degree (83% vs. 68%) and age groups, with 89% of adults 65 and older reporting receiving a COVID-19 vaccine compared to 67% of adults 18-29 years old. At least two-thirds of Hispanic adults, Black adults, and White adults report receiving a vaccine.
Vaccine Boosters Eligibility And Uptake
The share of fully vaccinated adults who report receiving a booster dose has more than doubled in the last month with now nearly one-fourth of fully vaccinated adults (23%, or 16% of all adults) saying they have already received a booster dose. The survey was in the field at the time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Emergency Use Authorization for all adults to get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot on November 19, 2021 and while many states expanded eligibility for COVID boosters. Nearly four in ten fully vaccinated adults say they will “definitely get” a booster when the FDA and CDC recommend it for people like them with another one in five (19%) saying they will “probably get” the booster dose. About one in four vaccinated adults say they will either “probably not get” or “definitely not get” a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Similar to the role that partisanship has played in initial COVID-19 vaccines, the survey finds the share of fully vaccinated Democrats (32%) reporting receiving a booster dose outpaces both independents (21%) and Republicans (18%). Democrats also are more likely than independents or Republicans to report they will “definitely” get a booster once eligible, 43% compared to 32% and 32%, respectively. Three in ten (31%) fully vaccinated Republicans say they will definitely not or probably not get a booster if the FDA and CDC recommend it for people like them, compared to 38% last month.
Looking at adults ages 50 and older, the group that was eligible for a booster dose earlier than the total adult population, partisanship is playing an outsized role in vaccinated adults’ intentions to get a booster. More than four in ten fully vaccinated Democrats ages 50 and older say they have already gotten a booster dose (44%), compared to one-third of independents (34%) and a quarter of Republicans (24%) of the same age group. On the other hand, at least one-third of Black (33%), Hispanic (36%), and White adults (37%) ages 50 and older say they have received a booster dose.
Majorities of fully vaccinated adults across racial and ethnic identity groups, regardless of age, say they have either already gotten a booster shot or they will get a booster dose, suggesting that the initial concerns some Black and Hispanic populations had with the COVID-19 vaccine have been addressed and may not stop them from receiving a booster dose. Yet, among those who are fully vaccinated, younger Black adults (67%) lag behind their Hispanic (81%) and White (78%) counterparts in terms of willingness to get a booster dose with three in ten young Black adults saying they will either “probably not” (24%) or “definitely not” (6%) get an additional shot (compared to one in eight young Hispanic or White adults).
Why Adults remain unvaccinated?
The safety of the COVID-19 vaccines remain a concern among the unvaccinated population with seven in ten saying they are either “not too confident” or “not at all confident” that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for adults. This compares to nine in ten vaccinated adults (89%) who are confident in the vaccines’ safety. Partisan gaps exist as well, but more than half of Republicans (55%) are confident in the safety of the vaccines, as are large majorities of Democrats (92%) and independents (69%).
Safety of Vaccines For Pregnant Women
Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant also lag in vaccine uptake with 64% saying they have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine (compared to 73% of those in the same age range who say they are not planning to become pregnant). An additional 7% say they are wanting to “wait and see” while three in ten say they will either only get if required (15%) or will definitely not get the vaccine (14%). One reason why they may be less likely to get vaccinated is because less than half of those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (39%) say they are either “very confident” or “somewhat confident” the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women. Nearly six in ten (57%) say they are not confident the vaccines are safe for them.
In addition to concerns about the safety of the vaccines, unvaccinated adults continue to report being less worried about getting sick from the coronavirus. Smaller shares of unvaccinated adults are worried that either they or family member will get seriously sick from the coronavirus (18% and 38%, respectively) compared to vaccinated adults (35% and 61%).
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements in the Workplace
In early November, the Biden administration announced that all businesses with 100 or more employees would have to require vaccines or weekly tests for all of their employees. While a federal appeals court has paused this mandate on private companies and the Occupational Safety and Health administration (OSHA) has suspended enforcement, many private businesses have already begun implementing such mandates. Roughly three in ten workers (29%) say their employer has required them to get the COVID-19 vaccine, continuing the upward trend of workers who reported an employer mandate in the Vaccine Monitor (9% in July, and 25% last month). Notably, more than half of employees who work in workplaces with 100 employees or more (the size of companies covered in this federal requirement) either say their employer already requires vaccination (36%) or say they want their employer to require it (17%).1 Four in ten of those with larger employers (41%) say they do not want their employer to require COVID-19 vaccination.
While the share saying they are currently subject to an employer vaccine mandate has increased since July, more than half of all workers say their employer has not yet required them to get a COVID-19 vaccine and that they do not want their employer to require vaccination, which has remained unchanged over the past several months. Large majorities of Republicans (69%) and unvaccinated workers (86%) say they do not want their employer to require employees to get vaccinated while most Democrats and vaccinated workers say their employer has either required them to get the vaccine or say they want their employer to impose such a requirement.
Few (4%) unvaccinated adults say they have personally left a job because their employer required them to get a COVID-19 vaccine (1% of all adults). This includes small shares across partisanship and workplace size.
Support for the federal requirement on larger workplaces (at least 100 employees) to mandate vaccines or require weekly testing is largely divided by partisanship and vaccination status, less so by size of workplaces. While a large majority (86%) of Democrats support the federal requirement, it is opposed by almost eight in ten (79%) Republicans. Two-thirds of vaccinated adults (65%) also support the requirement while eight in ten unvaccinated adults (79%) oppose it.
Support for the federal government requiring larger employers to make sure their workers get vaccinated or get tested weekly has decreased by five percentage points since last month (57%).
The Pandemic’s Toll
With reports of breakthrough cases, vaccine resistance, and upcoming winter surges, the American public is now more negative about the status of COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. than they were at the beginning of the year – before people were eligible to receive shots. Feeling “frustrated” is now the most common emotion with more than half of adults (58%) say it describes how they feel about the current status of COVID-19 vaccinations in the country. And while two-thirds of the country felt “optimistic” back in January 2021, this has decreased to 48% this month and now a larger share of the public (31%) report feeling “angry” (compared to 23% back in January). A quarter of the public remain “confused” and four in ten say they are “satisfied.”
Back in January, optimism was the most commonly reported emotion but now, frustration and optimism have switched spots – largely due to increased frustration among Republicans and to some extent, independents. In January, two-thirds of Republicans reported feeling optimistic but that has dropped to 37% in the most recent Monitor. On the other hand, larger shares of Republicans now report feeling “frustrated” than they did back in January (68% compared to 42%). Similarly, a larger share of independents now report feeling frustrated (60%) and a smaller share report feeling optimistic (44%). Majorities of Democrats continue to say they feel both “optimistic” (60%) and “frustrated” (55%).
Many Say Government Is Not Doing enough To Help Key Groups
In addition to feelings about the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in the U.S., half of adults think the government has not done enough to help small businesses (48%) and lower-income people (48%) during the coronavirus pandemic. Four in ten think the government has “not done enough” to help three groups also disproportionately impacted by the pandemic – Black people (41%), rural residents (41%), and Hispanic people (39%). Smaller shares say the government hasn’t done enough to help people like them (32%), White people (26%) and big companies (18%). In fact, more than one-third of adults say the government has “done too much” to help big companies during the pandemic.
Early on during the pandemic, there was substantial attention on the disproportionate burden being felt on racial and ethnic minorities as well as those living in rural communities. The latest survey shows that more than four in ten Black and Hispanic adults, as well as those living in rural areas, say the government’s response to the pandemic has not done enough to help both their communities and people like them.
Overall, views of the President Biden’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic are mixed with similar shares approving (44%) and disapproving (48%). Yet, like most experiences and attitudes related to COVID-19, views are largely divided across party lines and by vaccination status. Nearly nine in ten Republicans (88%) say they disapprove of the way President Biden is handling the pandemic while 83% of Democrats approve. A larger share of independents disapprove (52%) than approve (39%). Large majorities of unvaccinated adults (79%) also disapprove of President Biden’s handling of the pandemic while a majority (56%) of vaccinated adults approve.
The Pandemic Continues to Hit Some groups Harder
More than half (53%) of adults in the U.S. continue to say the coronavirus pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. This is consistent with a long-term trend finding roughly half of adults report negative mental health impacts from the pandemic, which has improved only slightly as more people have gotten vaccinated against the disease. At least four in ten also report negative impacts on their relationships with family members (47%) and their ability to pay for basic necessities (43%). More than one-third (36%) also report a negative impact on their physical health.
Women and younger adults continue to report disproportionate impacts on their mental health with about six in ten of each group saying the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health including a quarter who say it has had a “major negative impact.” Yet, the situation may be improving slightly for women with a smaller share of them reporting a negative impact on their mental health compared to last year (71%). The share of younger adults who report a negative impact on their mental health remains relatively unchanged. At least half of White adults, Hispanic adults, and Black adults say the pandemic has had negative impact on their mental health.
Black and Hispanic adults continue to report disproportionate personal economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than half of both groups (56% and 52%, respectively) saying the pandemic has a negative impact on their ability to pay for basic necessities (compared to 37% of White adults). This includes nearly half of older Black and Hispanic adults (45%, for both groups) compared to three in ten White adults ages 50 and older. Black and Hispanic adults report no improvement with their household finances, with similar shares this year compared to last year reporting the pandemic has had a negative impact on their ability to pay for basic necessities.
Methodology
This KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor was designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The survey was conducted November 8-22, 2021, among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,820 adults ages 18 and older (including interviews from 470 Hispanic adults and 452 non-Hispanic Black adults), living in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii (note: persons without a telephone could not be included in the random selection process). Phone numbers used for this study were randomly generated from cell phone and landline sampling frames, with an overlapping frame design, and disproportionate stratification aimed at reaching Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black respondents as well as those living in areas with high rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Stratification was based on incidence of the race/ethnicity subgroups and vaccine hesitancy within each frame. High hesitancy was defined as living in the top 25% of counties as far as the share of the population not intending to get vaccinated based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. The sample also included 342 respondents reached by calling back respondents that had previously completed an interview on the KFF Tracking poll or another SSRS RDD poll at least six months ago. Computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted by landline (192) and cell phone (1,628; including 1,282 who had no landline telephone) were carried out in English and Spanish by SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. To efficiently obtain a sample of lower-income and non-White respondents, the sample also included an oversample of prepaid (pay-as-you-go) telephone numbers (25% of the cell phone sample consisted of prepaid numbers) Both the random digit dial landline and cell phone samples were provided by Marketing Systems Group (MSG). For the landline sample, respondents were selected by asking for the youngest adult male or female currently at home based on a random rotation. If no one of that gender was available, interviewers asked to speak with the youngest adult of the opposite gender. For the cell phone sample, interviews were conducted with the adult who answered the phone. KFF paid for all costs associated with the survey.
The combined landline and cell phone sample was weighted to balance the sample demographics to match estimates for the national population using data from the Census Bureau’s 2019 U.S. American Community Survey (ACS), on sex, age, education, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, and region, within race-groups, along with data from the 2010 Census on population density. The sample was also weighted to match current patterns of telephone use using data from the January-June 2021 National Health Interview Survey. The sample is also weighted to account for the possibility of partisan nonresponse based on six months of KFF national polls and this current survey. The weight takes into account the fact that respondents with both a landline and cell phone have a higher probability of selection in the combined sample and also adjusts for the household size for the landline sample, and design modifications, namely, the oversampling of potentially undocumented respondents and of prepaid cell phone numbers, as well as the likelihood of non-response for the re-contacted sample. All statistical tests of significance account for the effect of weighting.
The margin of sampling error including the design effect for the full sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Numbers of respondents and margins of sampling error for key subgroups are shown in the table below. For results based on other subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher. Sample sizes and margins of sampling error for other subgroups are available by request. Sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error and there may be other unmeasured error in this or any other public opinion poll. Kaiser Family Foundation public opinion and survey research is a charter member of the Transparency Initiative of the American Association for Public Opinion Research.
This work was supported in part by grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF (an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation), the Ford Foundation, and the Molina Family Foundation. We value our funders. KFF maintains full editorial control over all of its policy analysis, polling, and journalism activities.
Group
N (unweighted)
M.O.S.E.
Total
1,820
± 3 percentage points
COVID-19 Vaccination Status
Have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
1,321
± 4 percentage points
Have not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine
466
± 6 percentage points
Race/Ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic
798
± 4 percentage points
Black, non-Hispanic
452
± 6 percentage points
Hispanic
470
± 6 percentage points
Party Identification
Democrats
562
± 6 percentage points
Republicans
390
± 7 percentage points
Independents
552
± 6 percentage points
Endnotes
A similar share of Democrats (67%), Republicans (65%), and independents (73%) say they work for employers with 100 employees or more. ↩︎
Nearly a Quarter of Vaccinated Adults Received a COVID-19 Booster Shot, Up Sharply from October; Most Other Vaccinated Adults Expect to Get a Booster, Though About 1 in 5 Say They Likely Won’t
Most Workers at Large Employers Say They Have or Want a COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement, Though the Public is Divided on the Federal Government’s Workplace Requirements for Large Employers
Public is Less Optimistic and More Frustrated with State of Vaccinations Now Than in January
Nearly a quarter (23%) of fully vaccinated adults have already received a COVID-19 booster shot, more than double the share who had done so in October (10%), the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report reveals.
Most other vaccinated adults say they definitely (37%) or probably (19%) will get a booster shot as recommended, while about a fifth say they will probably (10%) or definitely (8%) not do so.
The survey was fielded from Nov. 8-22 during a period when booster shots were regularly in the news. On Nov. 19, federal authorities made all vaccinated adults eligible for boosters. After the field period, on Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance encouraging all vaccinated adults to get boosters. News also broke last week after the field period about the new omicron variant.
The report shows that more than half, but not all, fully vaccinated adults across racial and ethnic groups, ages, and political identification either have or likely will get a booster once eligible six months after their initial vaccination. If everyone who expects to get a booster shot at this point follows through, 53% of all adults would receive a booster. Guidance issued Monday from CDC encouraging all vaccinated adults to get a booster shot and the threat posed by the omicron variant may increase the share of the public eager to get booster shots beyond these levels.
About a third (33%) of fully vaccinated older adults (ages 50 and up), representing a quarter (25%) of all adults in that age range, say they already received a booster shot, including similar shares of older White, Black and Hispanic adults. People in this age group were among the first groups eligible and encouraged to get booster shots.
Among partisans, a larger share of vaccinated Democrats say they received a booster (32%) compared to independents (21%) and Republicans (18%), reflecting Democrats’ broader enthusiasm for vaccinations. Nearly one-third of vaccinated Republicans say they definitely or probably won’t get a booster (31%).
A Third of Workers at Employers with At Least 100 Workers Say They Face a Vaccine Requirement
The report also looks at workers’ views and experiences with workplace vaccine requirements in light of a Biden administration policy to require employers with at least 100 workers to require their employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine or be tested weekly for the virus.
While a federal appeals court has put that policy on hold, a majority of workers at such firms say they already face such a requirement (36%) or want their employer to impose one (17%). Fewer (41%) say their employer does not now require a vaccine and they don’t want such a requirement.
Workers at smaller firms, whose employers would not be subject to the federal policy, are much less likely to say they already face a vaccine requirement (11%) or that they want one (20%).
The public overall is split on the Biden administration policy, with slightly more saying they support (52%) than oppose (45%) the federal government requiring large employers to mandate vaccines or weekly tests.
Most unvaccinated adults (79%) and Republicans (79%) oppose the policy, while most vaccinated adults (65%) and Democrats (86%) favor it. Independents are divided (48% favor, 50% oppose).
Public is Less Optimistic and More Frustrated with State of Vaccinations Now Than in January
Even before news about the omicron variant, the report captures the public’s rising frustration and waning optimism about the state of COVID-19 vaccinations across the country.
Most (58%) of the public now says they feel “frustrated,” up from January (50%) as the nation began its mass vaccination effort. Now half (48%) say they are “optimistic,” down from two thirds (66%). The shifts largely reflect higher frustration and lower optimism among Republicans and, to a lesser extent, independents.
When asked about President Biden’s handling of the pandemic, the public is split – with similar shares saying they approve (44%) and disapprove (48%). A larger share of independents disapprove (52%) than approve (39%), while Democrats overwhelmingly approve (83%) and Republicans overwhelmingly disapprove (88%).
No Movement in the Share of the Public That Received At Least an Initial Vaccine Dose
Despite enthusiasm for booster shots among those already vaccinated, the report shows no significant movement in the share of adults getting an initial vaccine, with 73% now saying they have done so, virtually unchanged since September (72%).
Another 2% say they plan to get vaccinated “as soon as possible” and 6% say they want to “wait and see” how it works for others before getting it. Others are more reluctant, either saying they would get it “only if required” (3%) for work, school or other reasons, or will “definitely not” get it (14%).
While majorities across all demographic groups have received a COVID-19 vaccine, a quarter of Republicans (26%), White Evangelical Christians (25%) and people without health insurance (25%) continue to say they will “definitely not” get a COVID-19 vaccine. There are also gaps in vaccine uptake between college graduates and those without a college degree (83% vs. 68%) and across age groups, with those ages 65 and older more likely to have gotten vaccinated than adults under age 30 (89% vs. 67%).
Among women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, less than two thirds (64%) received a vaccine dose compared to nearly three quarters (73%) among similarly aged women who aren’t pregnant or trying to become so. This may reflect worries about the vaccine’s effects on pregnancy, as less than half (39%) of women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant are confident the vaccines are safe for pregnant people.
The report also notes:
• More than half (53%) of adults say the pandemic has affected their mental health negatively, including 21% who say it has had a major negative impact. More women (58%) than men (47%) report a negative impact, as do more adults under age 30 (64%) than adults over age 65 (37%).
• When asked about the pandemic’s economic impact, 43% say it’s made it harder for them to pay for basic necessities like housing, utilities, and food. This includes most Black (56%) and Hispanic (52%) adults, as well as most people with household incomes under $40,000 annually (56%).
About half of adults say that the government has not done enough to help small businesses (48%) and low-income people (48%) during the pandemic. Nearly as many say the same about Black people (41%), rural residents (41%), and Hispanic people (39%). Small shares say the government has not done enough to help people like them (32%), White people (26%) and big companies (18%).
Designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at KFF, the KFF Vaccine Monitor survey was conducted from Nov. 8-22 among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,820 adults. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (192) and cell phone (1,628). The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample. For results based on subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is an ongoing research project tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. Using a combination of surveys and qualitative research, this project tracks the dynamic nature of public opinion as vaccine development and distribution unfold, including vaccine confidence and acceptance, information needs, trusted messengers and messages, as well as the public’s experiences with vaccination.
The Supreme Court on Dec. 1 heard an abortion case that could result in Roe v. Wade being overturned. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, involves a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, much earlier than the fetal viability standard established by the 1973 decision in Roe.
In this video, KFF Associate Director for Women’s Health Policy Laurie Sobel describes how a ruling overturning Roe could affect abortion access in the United States. Many states have laws intended to immediately ban abortion after such a ruling, while others have laws protecting the right to an abortion. For many people living in states where abortion is banned, it would be difficult for them to obtain abortion care out of state.
This is the first video in our new series “In Focus with KFF,” featuring insights from our experts on major health care issues in the news.
As the House-passed Build Back Better Act moves to the Senate, a new explainer from KFF summarizes the key prescription drug provisions within the broader budget reconciliation bill.
These provisions would lower prescription drug costs paid by people with Medicare and private insurance and curb drug spending by the federal government and private payers. The Congressional Budget Office estimates federal budget savings from the drug pricing provisions would be $297 billion over 10 years. Although the bill passed the House with no Republican votes, the prescription drug proposals have taken shape amidst strong bipartisan support among the public for the government to address high and rising drug prices.
The key prescription drug proposals in the legislation would:
Allow the federal government to negotiate prices for some high-cost drugs covered under Medicare Part B and Part D;
Require inflation rebates to limit annual increases in drug prices in Medicare and private insurance;
Cap out-of-pocket spending for Medicare Part D enrollees and implement other Part D benefit design changes;
Limit cost sharing for insulin for people with Medicare and private insurance;
Eliminate cost sharing for adult vaccines covered under Part D, and
Repeal the Trump Administration’s drug rebate rule.
KFF will continue to track these and other measures as the bill works its way through the Senate. A separate explainer summarizes and analyzes a wider array of the health policy provisions in the budget reconciliation package.
For these and other analyses related to the Build Back Better Act, visit kff.org.
