Americans are divided over President Joe Biden’s latest attempt to increase COVID-19 vaccinations, new polls show, as the White House struggles to repair the political damage incurred amid to the delta variant surge and restore confidence in Biden’s leadership.
The president announced last week he would direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to mandate that all businesses with 100 or more employees require workers to get vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests. The move, which could affect over 80 million people, prompted immediate objections from Republican legislators and governors, and at least one lawsuit has already been filed against it.
“The federal government cannot force people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Biden administration is once again flouting our laws and precedents to push their radical agenda,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich after filing a complaint in federal court.
A Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday found a slight majority of Americans disapprove of the federal government requiring vaccination for workers in the public and private sector, and a plurality believe Biden’s announcement went too far. However, in the same poll, when asked about allowing workers to choose between vaccination and weekly testing — as Biden’s plan does — 53% approve.
A larger share of the public backed Biden’s approach in a Morning Consult/Politico survey, with 58% of Americans approving and a similar percentage saying the requirement would reduce infections. Democrats were more than twice as likely as Republicans to favor the mandate, and the two parties were deeply polarized over whether the policy protects or violates individual rights.
An Axios/Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend indicated strong support for the vaccination-or-testing requirement among independents, with 62% in favor of it. Urban and suburban voters and those in the oldest and youngest age groups were most likely to support the plan, while 70% of Republicans were opposed.
“Most Americans who are vaccinated and want their lives back will support this action,” said Robert Mann, a former Senate press secretary and author of “Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon.” “And I think public opinion will continue to move in the direction of taking a tougher stance on this. The anti-vaxxers are fighting a losing battle.”
However, a survey conducted by the Trafalgar Group for Convention of States Action signaled broad public concerns about the legality of the mandate and its potential implications, even among Democrats. Nearly 60% of voters said they did not believe Biden had the authority to require businesses to mandate vaccination, and 55% feared the precedent it would set could be abused by future presidents.
“Our citizens stand squarely with courageous, principled governors who know this isn’t about health, science, or compassion, it’s a naked political power grab,” said Mark Meckler, president of Convention of States Action, noting 62% of independents supported Republicans challenging the requirement.
Still, the White House pointed to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s landslide victory over a Republican-led recall effort this week as evidence most voters support an aggressive response to COVID-19. The recall had been driven partly by complaints about Newsom’s handling of the pandemic and the restrictions and mandates he imposed.
“This was a resounding victory for Governor Newsom but also for a science-based approach to fighting the pandemic — for vaccines, for testing, for steps that will protect more people and save more lives,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki Wednesday.
In a Navigator Research survey of registered voters, the share of independent voters and Republicans who believe Biden is “doing enough” to combat the pandemic has risen 5 points since Aug. 30. After the announcement of the vaccine policy, the percentage of Americans who believe the worst of the pandemic is yet to come dropped by 7 points to 47%.
“Following the announcement of new vaccine mandates, there is an uptick in optimism about the state of the pandemic and worries are beginning to decline,” the polling firm said.
While the new policy might bolster voters’ views that Biden is confronting the virus head-on, it is less clear it will have much tangible impact on the trajectory of the pandemic. An expected wave of legal challenges could delay or block implementation, and many workers might choose to quit their jobs or fight disciplinary action rather than get vaccinated.
A Change Research survey conducted for CNBC before the policy was announced found only 4% of unvaccinated voters said they would change their minds if their employer mandated the shots. Of the 30% of voters who were unvaccinated, 60% identified themselves as Republicans and 87% said they voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020.
Some hospitals and schools are already encountering staffing challenges after implementing vaccine requirements for their staff. One upstate New York hospital announced this week it would halt delivering babies after six maternity ward employees resigned.
Mann acknowledged hardened resistance to vaccination would be difficult to overcome, particularly among those who do not trust the government or view Biden’s actions as dangerous federal overreach. However, he also sees few other options besides mandates to drive up vaccination rates.
“The opposition is about as determined as it could get right now,” he said. “I doubt there is anything anyone can say at this point to persuade a committed anti-vaxxer to change his mind and get the shot.”
Ultimately, voters’ attitudes toward specific policies Biden pursues might matter less than the long-term success or failure of his broader strategy. The White House appears to be banking on containing the virus and getting the economic recovery back on track in the months ahead, even if it means making controversial decisions today.
“A year from now, if the economy is strong and the pandemic is behind us, no one will remember their temporary annoyance at Biden’s vaccine mandate,” Mann said.