SAN FRANCISCO — January 14, 2022— Bospar, the “Politely Pushy®” PR firm that puts tech companies on the map, today announced survey data that reveals that news of the Omicron outbreak didn’t have a dramatic effect on Americans’ decisions to get vaccinated or get the booster but did cause a majority to change or cancel their holiday plans.
The rapid spread of Omicron did little to move the needle to convince Americans who were not vaccinated to take the jab. Only 16.6% acknowledge that they will get vaccinated due to Omicron, and only 21.3% will get a booster shot.
Almost a third (30.4%) of respondents have no intention of getting vaccinated, while 37.2% will not get a booster.
However, Omicron did have an impact on other behaviors. More Americans – 55% – are glued to news coverage because of the latest COVID wave, compared to 33% who are watching less news. A majority (53%) also changed or canceled their holiday family gatherings or trips.
When it comes to how this latest COVID uptick will impact 2022, Americans are not in agreement: more than a third (36.7%) of Americans are optimistic about the year ahead; about a third (33.9%) are expecting a stressful year, similar to 2021; and less than a third (29.5%) are on the fence but plan on hunkering down for the first several weeks of 2022.
Confusion reigns among Americans as to what to expect going forward. Almost equal numbers of Americans say they are unsure if COVID is here to stay (35.1%) or will definitely be here forever (34.7%); while slightly less (30.1%) believe nothing lasts forever – even COVID.
Americans who believe COVID is here to stay will take minimal action to limit their risk of contagion: 26.9% will continue to wear a mask while out and about; 16.8% will limit the size and frequency of their indoor social gatherings; and 9.3% will hold off traveling for the immediate future. But only 7.1% said they would now vaccinate, while 31.7% will only minimally alter their plans and plan to “live their lives” undeterred. Less than 10% (8.2%) plan to remain on the couch in their sweatpants until further notice, remote in hand.
“If we need any further proof as to why Omicron is so rampant, here it is,” said Curtis Sparrer, Bospar principal and co-founder. “Americans have COVID fatigue, and even those who believe the virus is here for the duration are, for the most part, not willing to take the precautions recommended by health experts to prevent its spread. I fear it’s going to be another winter of COVID discontent.”
Methodology
These findings were part of a broader demographic survey Bospar commissioned from Propeller Insights to find out how Americans are responding to the newest COVID variant, as well as their perceptions and attitudes about the current U.S. political divide. Propeller Insights surveyed 1,000 U.S. citizens across the U.S. Jan.2-5, 2022.
About Propeller Insights
Propeller Insights is a full-service market research firm based in Los Angeles. Using quantitative and qualitative methodologies to measure and analyze marketplace and consumer opinions, they work extensively across industries such as travel, brand intelligence, entertainment/media, retail, and consumer packaged goods.
About Bospar
Bospar is the award-winning “Politely Pushy®” tech public relations agency. The firm provides clients with national support thanks to its distributed agency model, which it launched in 2015. Bospar’s staff includes marketing and PR experts and veteran journalists from top-tier tech and business media. The agency’s strategic and creative thinkers excel in earned and social media, analyst and investor relations, and public affairs. Leaders from brands including Marqeta, Snowflake and Unisys trust Bospar to drive category leadership for disruptive technologies and solutions. Visit www.bospar.com, Twitter and LinkedIn.
