56% don’t trust vaccine for travel to high risk areas.
The Vacationer published its 2021 COVID-19 Vaccine Travel Survey, in response to rising COVID-19 infections after holiday travel and gatherings as well as the availability of the new vaccine.
The survey included 520 American adults over the age of 18 and was conducted online using SurveyMonkey's interface/audience on our behalf on January 9, 2021. I, Eric Jones, analyzed the survey, and I am a Mathematics Instructor at Rowan College South Jersey. We sought to analyze travel plans for American adults in 2021 and beyond with the COVID-19 vaccine now available. A complete methodology is listed at the bottom.
Here are the findings with a few key stats:
1. If required for travel, would you agree to a COVID-19 Vaccine Passport or App so airlines and border authorities can check your vaccination status and COVID-19 test results?
- Yes – 73.65% (188 million Americans)
- No – 26.35%
Key Takeaway: Three out of every four people would agree to documentation telling airlines and authorities their vaccine status and test results. In an era of privacy concerns, this is an astoundingly high percentage. Our survey indicated that 77.73% of males are willing to agree to a Vaccine Passport while only 69.96% of women were.
2. Do you trust the COVID-19 vaccine enough to travel to high risk COVID-19 areas?
- Yes – 43.85%
- No – 56.15% (143 million Americans)
Key Takeaway: Of the general population, the 56% saying no implies the majority of people do not fully trust the vaccine to protect them. Of those surveyed from the Pacific region (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska and Hawaii), 58.14% said they trust the COVID-19 vaccine enough to travel to high risk areas. This fact makes the Pacific region the only region to have a majority of people trust the vaccine.
3. With the COVID-19 pandemic still spreading, when will you feel comfortable traveling again?
- I am comfortable traveling right now. — 28.46%
- When I get the vaccine. — 23.85%
- When enough of the general population gets the vaccine. — 31.54%
- I will not travel again until society returns to pre COVID-19 life. — 16.15%
Key Takeaway: Men are over 7% more likely than women to say they are comfortable with traveling right now. Almost 72% of the population say they will not feel comfortable traveling again until they have received the vaccine, enough of the population is vaccinated, or herd immunity is achieved. The 72% represents over 182 million people.
4. Will you take a COVID-19 vaccine if it is required to do any of the following? (Check All that Apply Except If You Are Checking the Last Choice.)
- Fly on a Plane. – 63.08%
- Stay in a Hotel. – 55.96%
- Visit a Specific U.S. State. – 56.73%
- Enter a Foreign Country. – 51.54%
- I will not take the COVID-19 vaccine under any circumstances. – 21.35% (54 million Americans)
Key Takeaway: 21.35% of those surveyed said they will not take the COVID-19 vaccine under any circumstances. This means more than 54 million Americans age 18 or older have no intentions of taking the vaccine for any reason.
5. Would you feel safe traveling without a vaccination to an international destination that requires proof of a negative COVID-19 Test?
- Yes – 40.58%
- No – 59.42% (152 million Americans)
Key Takeaway: 59.42% of people do not feel safe traveling without a vaccination to an international destination that requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test. This means that almost 152 million Americans aged 18 or older do not feel safe traveling to a foreign country even if that country is requiring negative COVID-19 tests to enter.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
