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Majority of adults support masking requirements, split on vaccination requirements

Jan 25, 2022

COVID-19 continues to spread across the region, with between 1,000 and 2,500 new cases each day throughout January in Hamilton County alone. The emergence of the omicron variant has both accelerated COVID-19's spread and renewed discussions about masking, vaccination and booster shots – all public health measures that have been shown to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and help prevent serious illness and death.  

7 in 10 Greater Cincinnati adults support mask requirements in indoor places 

Even before the recent surge from omicron, the Greater Cincinnati COVID-19 Health Issues Survey asked Greater Cincinnati adults about these measures. Data from this latest round of the survey, conducted between Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, 2021, with 520 participants, show that Greater Cincinnati adults are generally supportive of businesses requiring masking but are split on vaccination requirements.  

Most vaccinated adults plan to get a booster shot 

Regarding booster shots, nearly 8 in 10 Greater Cincinnati adults (78%) who had already received a COVID-19 vaccine at the time of the survey, which was conducted shortly before boosters were recommended for adults, reported that they were very or somewhat likely to get a COVID-19 booster.  

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that as of Jan. 20, 2022, only about half of fully vaccinated adults in Interact for Health’s 22-county survey region have received a booster (47%). This is similar to the 4 in 10 fully vaccinated adults in the nation who have received a booster (43%). The difference between the percentage of adults who plan to get a booster and the percentage of boosters that have been administered represents a chance to increase booster shot uptake in our region.  

As of early January 2022, the CDC recommends boosters for:  

  • Adults 18 or older at least five months after completing the primary Pfizer or Moderna series OR at least two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.  
  • Teens 12 to 17 years old at least five months after completing the primary Pfizer series.  

Graphic showing the percentage of adults in Greater Cincinnati counties who have received a COVID-19 booster.The CDC reports that more than 6 in 10 people in Greater Cincinnati have started vaccines (63%), with just under 6 in 10 (57%) being fully vaccinated. To schedule a vaccine or booster shot, please visit the Health Collaborative’s Test and Protect website.   

About the survey: The Greater Cincinnati COVID-19 Health Issues Survey is part of a research effort by Interact for Health and the University of Cincinnati Institute for Policy Research to understand adult behaviors, attitudes and opinions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online surveys were administered between Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, 2021, to 520 adults in a 22-county region. Learn more about the methodology.  

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