- 14% of vaccinated Americans have axed friendships with people who opted out of vaccination.
- 81% of Democrat survey responders said they were fully vaccinated.
- 64% of Republican survey responders said they were fully vaccinated.
New nationwide poll, conducted in early September, revealed that 16% of US residents who took part in the survey have ended at least three friendships in the past year and a half. About 14% of vaccinated Americans said they have axed relationships with friends who opted not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Americans have been discarding friends from their lives during the coronavirus crisis, and for those who have chosen to get jabbed, friends’ positions on the COVID-19 vaccination were often the relationship-breaker.
In fact, vaccinated respondents were nearly four times as likely as those who don’t intend to get the jabs – 66% to 17% – to have ended friendships during the pandemic. The poll showed that 97% of vaccinated people consider their former friends to be “full-blown anti-vaxxers” and said they could never get them to understand the importance of getting the shots.
COVID-19 vaccination is one of the most divisive issues driving a wedge between Americans. The 14% who cited the jabs as the reason for ending friendships compared with 16% who blamed political differences and 15% whose former pal was dating an ex-mate. Other reasons included discovering their friends were liars (7%) and having a friend make up stories about them (12%).
Hollywood has apparently blessed the idea of dumping friends who decline to get vaccinated. Actress Jennifer Aniston – ironically, a star of the television series ‘Friends’ – said last month in an InStyle magazine interview that she had ended relationships with people who refused to get jabbed or chose not to tell her their inoculation status. “It’s a real shame,” she said. “I’ve just lost a few people in my weekly routine.”
The level of vaccine vitriol has escalated in recent weeks. Radio superstar Howard Stern recently blasted “all the s**theads in our country who won’t get vaccinated” and said those who don’t get the jabs should be denied hospital beds if they get sick. “Stay home, die there with your COVID,” he said.
New said 81% of Democrat survey respondents were fully vaccinated, compared with 64% of Republicans and 69% of independents. About 57% of Republicans and 41% of Democrats said society is “too critical” of unvaccinated Americans.
Tolerance for vaccine autonomy is waning in the USA, as President Joe Biden last week ordered all businesses with 100 or more employees to force their workers to get the shots. “We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us,” Biden said of unvaccinated Americans.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- New nationwide poll, conducted in early September, revealed that 16% of US residents who took part in the survey have ended at least three friendships in the past year and a half.
- Actress Jennifer Aniston – ironically, a star of the television series ‘Friends' – said last month in an InStyle magazine interview that she had ended relationships with people who refused to get jabbed or chose not to tell her their inoculation status.
- In fact, vaccinated respondents were nearly four times as likely as those who don't intend to get the jabs – 66% to 17% – to have ended friendships during the pandemic.
