• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Health

The political divide between the vaxxed and unvaxxed is widening, according to new report

By
Jennifer Alsever
Jennifer Alsever
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jennifer Alsever
Jennifer Alsever
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 28, 2021, 5:00 AM ET

Is the COVID-19 booster shot proof of scientists’ pursuit of more effective vaccines? Or does it show the first round of vaccines didn’t do the job? Your answer likely depends on whether you’re a Democrat or Republican.

A report released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows how Americans still fall largely along partisan lines when it comes to opinions about the COVID-19 booster vaccine. 

At least 82% of Democrats surveyed said the COVID booster vaccine shows that scientists are continuing to find ways to make the vaccine more effective, while 52% of Republicans say it shows that the vaccines didn’t work as well as promised. When it came to breakthrough cases—or the positive cases among the vaccinated—the majority of both Democrats and Republicans agreed that vaccines work, because vaccinated people don’t get as sick or don’t typically require hospitalization, but more than 39% of Republicans said breakthrough infections were evidence that existing vaccines aren’t working, compared to just 10% of Democrats. 

The partisanship isn’t surprising, considering how politicized the pandemic has been in the U.S. New data by the New York Times shows how vaccination rates—and COVID deaths—correspond with how people voted in the 2020 U.S. election.

The vaccines were developed quickly, and information has changed as the science has evolved, said Liz Hamel, the Kaiser foundation’s vice president who oversees public opinion research. Many people get their information from partisan sources and hear messages from partisan leaders, which has created confusion, especially among the unvaccinated, she said. “People are overwhelmed with information and trying to discern the misinformation,” said Hamel.

According to the survey, as many as 90% of Democrats say they’re vaccinated, and they’re likely to attribute the rise in Delta variant cases to people who refuse the vaccine or fail to take proper precautions. That compares to 58% of Republicans who are vaccinated and are more likely to attribute caseloads to immigrants and tourists. While vaccinated adults chalk up the surge in cases to people who won’t vaccinate, the unvaccinated argue the rise means vaccines aren’t working as well as promised.

The disparate views are driving big emotions. Two-thirds of Democrats and half of vaccinated adults say they’re angry at the unvaccinated, while 59% of Republicans and 56% of unvaccinated adults say they’re angry with the federal government. 

Vaccination rates climbed this summer—as of September, 72% of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, up from 67% in July. The big reasons for finally getting those shots? According to the report, more than a third of those who were recently vaccinated said they either knew someone who got sick or died from COVID, their local hospitals were filling up, or they simply observed the surge of Delta variant cases. 

More health care and Big Pharma coverage from Fortune:

  • Health insurers justify passing COVID treatment costs on to patients despite massive profits
  • Why pregnant people are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine boosters
  • Portugal leads the world in COVID-19 vaccinations
  • A WHO-approved Novavax vaccine could upstage mRNA jabs—if it can solve its manufacturing delays
  • Duckworth, Raimondo: Congress must back the president’s historic investment in home care workers

Subscribe to Fortune Daily to get essential business stories straight to your inbox each morning.

About the Author
By Jennifer Alsever
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

Big TechHealth
Are you addicted to technology? Six questions experts use to help spot red flags
By Kristin StollerMarch 28, 2026
5 hours ago
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Omega-3 Supplements (2026): An Expert Guide
By Emily PharesMarch 27, 2026
16 hours ago
HealthDietary Supplements
The 5 Best Online Dietitians of 2026: Help to Reach Your Nutrition Goals
By Christina SnyderMarch 27, 2026
16 hours ago
HealthDietary Supplements
Ritual Vitamins Review (2026): With Insight from an Expert
By Emily PharesMarch 27, 2026
17 hours ago
HealthDietary Supplements
The 4 Best Matcha Powders of 2026: Taste Tested by Our Team
By Emily PharesMarch 27, 2026
17 hours ago
HealthNASA
Astronaut’s medical mystery stumps doctors and NASA after he suddenly lost the ability to speak in space
By Marcia Dunn and The Associated PressMarch 27, 2026
18 hours ago

Most Popular

Success
Meetings are not work, says Southwest Airlines CEO—and he’s taking action by blocking his calendar every afternoon from Wednesday to Friday 
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
1 day ago
AI
Exclusive: Anthropic acknowledges testing new AI model representing ‘step change’ in capabilities, after accidental data leak reveals its existence
By Fortune EditorsMarch 26, 2026
1 day ago
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of March 27, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
23 hours ago
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, March 27, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
23 hours ago
Commentary
The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
5 days ago
AI
Exclusive: Anthropic left details of an unreleased model, invite-only CEO retreat, sitting in an unsecured data trove in a significant security lapse
By Fortune EditorsMarch 26, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.