#Most Americans support COVID vaccine passports for flying: poll

Most Americans support vaccine passports for flying and big events, such as concerts or sporting events — but not for heading back to work or indoor dining, according to a Gallup poll published Friday.

The survey — which included over 3,700 adults and took place at the end of April — found that 57 percent of Americans believe proof of vaccination should be required for air travel, while 55 percent said it should be mandated for crowded events. 

But Americans don’t believe a vaccine passport should be required everywhere. Less than half of employed respondents (45 percent) said they would support proof of vaccination to return to the office and just 44 percent said it should be required to stay in a hotel.

Even fewer Americans supported vaccine passports for indoor dining, with only 40 percent backing the idea.

The survey’s findings underscore the tricky terrain that policymakers, business owners and others will need to maneuver as society and the economy continue to emerge from the pandemic. 

The Gallup poll found that support for rigid mandates on proof of vaccination is uneven across various demographics, further complicating the situation.

It found, for example, that support for vaccine passports was far higher among Democrats than Republicans.

Across all five of the activities asked about, no more than 28 percent of Republicans supported mandating proof of vaccination, the poll found. 

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has laid out guidance for vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans.

Last month, the agency announced that vaccinated people can go outside without wearing a mask, unless they’re in large gatherings.

Earlier in April, the CDC said that vaccinated people can travel domestically and internationally at “a low risk” to themselves as long as they mask up and avoid crowds.

But Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, has said the federal government will not mandate vaccine passports — instead leaving it up to individual businesses and institutions.

“I’m not saying that they should or that they would, but I’m saying you could foresee how an independent entity might say, ‘Well, we can’t be dealing with you unless we know you’re vaccinated.’ But it’s not going to be mandated from the federal government,” he said.