COVID-19 Current Events Tracker (CET)

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CET – Annotated Questionnaire (Wave 22)

Note: The questions below are the proposed questions for the twenty-first wave of the Weekly Current Events Tracker (CET). Questions highlighted in yellow will be asked every week; questions highlighted in blue will be rotated into the survey on a monthly basis; and questions highlighted in green are meant to be asked in Wave 22 only or are being asked again to update data on a variable of interest. We will be fielding the Impact of Mandates and Incentives module, and new questions around the Delta variant, Republican arguments for getting vaccinated, concerns about long term side effects, perceptions of FDA approval, as well as July 4th behavior.
ASPA will provide OMB with updates to the questionnaire for subsequent Waves.

Standard Questions
Modular Questions
One-Time or Repeat Questions Being Asked Again to Update Data

For the next section we would like to talk about current events.

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//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q1
Question type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
hhs_fam: How familiar are you with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)?
Variable Label: hhs_fam: Familiarity with HHS
Value
Value Label
1
Not at all familiar
2
Slightly familiar
3
Moderately familiar
4
Very familiar
-99
Refused

// Page Break //

//BASE: hhs_fam= 2, 3, 4, OR -99//
Item #: Q2
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
hhs_trust. How much trust do you have in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide you with accurate information about the coronavirus or COVID-19?
Variable Label: hhs_trust: Trust in HHS
Value
Value Label
1
None at all
2
Not very much
3
A fair amount
4
A great deal
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q3
Question type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
cdc_fam: How familiar are you with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?
Variable Label: cdc_fam: Familiarity with CDC
Value
Value Label
1
Not at all familiar
2
Slightly familiar
3
Moderately familiar
4
Very familiar
-99
Refused

// Page Break //

//BASE: cdc_fam= 2, 3, 4, OR -99//
Item #: Q4
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
cdc_trust. How much trust do you have in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide you with accurate information about the coronavirus or COVID-19?
Variable Label: cdc_trust: Trust in CDC
Value
Value Label
1
None at all
2
Not very much
3
A fair amount
4
A great deal
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q5
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh1_cet. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccines to prevent COVID-19 are now available at no cost. Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine?
Variable Label: beh1: Vaccination behavior
Value
Value Label
0
No, I have not received a COVID-19 vaccine
1
Yes, but I have only received one shot out of the two required shots 
2
Yes, I have received all of the required shots 
-99
Refused

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//BASE: beh1_cet =0 OR -99//
Item #: Q6
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh2a_cet. What is the likelihood that you will get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Variable Label: beh2a: Intention to get vaccinated
Value
Value Label
1
Very unlikely
2
Somewhat unlikely
3
Neither likely nor unlikely
4
Somewhat likely
5
Very likely
-99
Refused
-100
Valid Skip

// Page Break //

//BASE: beh1_cet =0 OR -99//
Item #: Q7
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh3a_cet. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccines to prevent COVID-19 are now available at no cost. How soon will you get vaccinated? For this question, assume there is enough vaccine so that everyone who wants it can get it.
Variable Label: BEH3a_CET: Wait to get vaccinated
Value 
Value Label 
1 
I will get a vaccine as soon as I can
2 
I will wait to get a vaccine for one or more reasons
3 
I will never get a COVID-19 vaccine
-99
Refused
-100
Valid Skip

// Page Break //

//BASE beh3a_cet =2//
Item #: Q8-Q10
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh4_cet. You responded that you will wait to get a COVID-19 vaccine. For each of the following statements, is this a reason why you would wait to get a COVID-19 vaccine? Select yes or no for each item.
Variable Label: beh4_cet: Reasons: Waiting to get vaccinated
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  RANDOMIZE BEH4_1_CET-BEH4_10_CET
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
beh4_1_cet
I will wait because of my age.
beh4_1_cet: Age
beh4_2_cet
I will wait because of my health status, allergies, or medical history.
beh4_2_cet: Health
beh4_12_cet
I want to know if the vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 in the short-term.
beh4_12_cet: Short-term effectiveness
beh4_13_cet
I want to know if the vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 in the long-term (i.e., whether booster shots will be required).
beh4_13_cet: Long-term effectiveness
beh4_14_cet
I do not trust the vaccines.
beh4_14_cet: Lack of trust
beh4_15_cet
I do not think I am at risk of getting COVID-19.
beh4_15_cet: Lack of COVID-19 concern
beh4_16_cet
I want to know if the vaccines are effective at protecting people from COVID-19 variants.
beh4_16_cet: Effectiveness against variants
beh4_4_cet
I am pregnant or expect to become pregnant.
beh4_4_cet: Pregnant
beh4_5_cet
I want to talk to my doctor first. 
beh4_5_cet: Talk to doctor first
beh4_6_cet
I want to compare the effectiveness of the different vaccines.
beh4_6_cet: Compare vaccines
beh4_7_cet
I want to see if my friends and family get the vaccine. 
beh4_7_cet: Friends/family
beh4_8_cet
I want to see if others who get the vaccine first develop any side effects.
beh4_8_cet: Side effects
beh4_9_cet
I want to make sure it is safe for people like me first.
beh4_9_cet: Confirm safety
beh4_10_cet
I want to hear from leaders in my community about the vaccine first.
beh4_10_cet: Hear from leaders
beh4_11_cet
Other
beh4_11_cet: Other

Value
Value Label
0
No
1
Yes
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q11
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
vaccine_attitudes. How do you feel about vaccines, in general?
Variable Label: vaccine_attitudes: CDC vaccine attitude question
Value
Value Label
1
1 – Very negative
2
2 –
3
3 –
4
4 – 
5
5 –
6
6 –
7
7 – Very positive
-99
Refused

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//BASE: beh1_cet=0 or -99//
Item #: Q12
Question Type: Grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
pol_argue. Do the following statements make you more likely, less likely, or not affect whether you will get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Variable Label: pol_argue: Political arguments for getting vaccinated
//PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE poll_argue_1-poll_argue_5
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
poll_argue_1
96% of Republican senators have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine.
poll_argue_1: 96% of senators
poll_argue_2
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in the past few days: “There's no good reason not to get vaccinated. We need to finish the job. And I know there's some skepticism out there, but let me put it his way: It may not guarantee you don't get it but it almost guarantees you don't die from it if you get it.”
poll_argue_2: McConnell
poll_argue_3
In March, former President Donald Trump was asked whether he would recommend a COVID-19 vaccine and answered: “"I would. I would recommend it and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly. But again, we have our freedoms and we have to live by that and I agree with that also, but it is a great vaccine," Trump said. "It is a safe vaccine it is something that works."
poll_argue_3: Trump
poll_argue_4
Operation Warp Speed (OWS), which was started by former President Trump on May 15, 2020, was a business-government-military partnership that had the goal of producing 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines as quickly as possible. The Trump administration did the “heavy lifting of ushering vaccines through clinical-trials, scaling-up mass production, and initiating the complicated process of distribution to the states,” before the Biden administration took office. OWS has been called a rare private-public partnership that has met its performance benchmarks and been deemed a major success.
poll_argue_4: OWS
poll_argue_5
Three Republican senators and seven Republican congressman, all doctors, recently released a video recommending that people get a COVID-19 vaccine. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) said “the process was rigorous and transparent.” Rep Andy Harris (R-MD), said that the Food and Drug Administration “did not skip any steps.”
poll_argue_5: Republican doctors



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// PROGRAMMING NOTE: Generate variable (lt_condition) and randomly assign 1/3 of respondents to lt_condition=1 [labeled: “six_weeks”], 1/3 of respondents to lt_condition =2 [labeled: “no_lt_effects”, and 1/3 of respondents to lt_condition =3 [labeled: “control”] //

//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q13
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
long_term_se. 

[Show if lt_condition=1] Please read the following message, and then indicate how much you agree or disagree with the below statements. 

“Years of vaccine monitoring have shown us that side effects almost always appear within six weeks of vaccination, and that is also true for COVID vaccines.”

[Show if lt_condition=2] Please read the following message, and then indicate how much you agree or disagree with the below statements. 

“Years of vaccine monitoring have shown us that vaccines don’t cause health problems months or years later, and there is no reason to believe COVID vaccines will do so, either.”

[Show if lt_condition=3] How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 

Variable Label: long_term_se: Belief in long-term side effects
//PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE long_term_se_1- long_term_se_2
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
long_term_se_1
COVID-19 vaccines can cause long-term side effects like cancer or infertility.
long_term_se_1: COVID-19 vaccines
long_term_se_2
Other vaccines (e.g., MMR, HPV, whooping cough) can cause long-term side effects like cancer or infertility.
poll_argue_2: Other vaccines

Value  
Value Label  
1  
Strongly disagree  
2  
Disagree  
3  
Neither agree nor disagree  
4  
Agree  
5  
Strongly agree  
-99  
Refused  

// Page Break //

//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q14
Question Type: Single punch
delta_var_con: How concerned are you about the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus?
Variable Label: delta_var_con: Concern about Delta variant
Value
Value Label
1
Not at all concerned
2
Slightly concerned
3
Somewhat concerned
4
Very concerned
99
I am not aware of this COVID-19 variant
-99
Refused

// Page Break //

//BASE: delta_var_con≠99//
Item #: Q15
Question Type: Single punch
delta_var_con: Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Delta variant:
//PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE delta_var_info_1-delta_var_info_5//
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
delta_var_con_1
I am worried about major outbreaks of COVID-19 in low-vaccination areas of the country.
delta_var_con_1: Worried about outbreaks 
delta_var_con_2
I am concerned about unvaccinated children contracting the Delta variant.
delta_var_con_2: Concern for children
delta_var_con_3
The Delta variant is making me reluctant to fully return to normal behavior.
delta_var_con_3: Reluctant to return to normal
delta_var_con_4
I think the risks of the Delta variant are overblown.
delta_var_con_4: Risks overblown 
delta_var_con_5
I do not think the currently-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the Delta variant.
delta_var_con_5: Vaccines not effective 

Value
Value Label
1
Strongly disagree
2
Somewhat disagree
3
Neither agree nor disagree
4 
Somewhat agree
5
Strongly agree
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE All respondents//
Item #: Q16-Q17
Question Type: Multi punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
req_place. Some businesses and governments are requiring that people be vaccinated against COVID-19 before entering certain places or attending certain events. 

In which of the following situations do you think people should be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19? 
Variable Label: req_place: Vaccine requirement situations
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  RANDOMIZE req_place_1-req_place_9//
req_place_1
For working in a health care setting 
req_place_1: Health care
req_place_2
For indoor dining at restaurants  
req_place_2: Indoor dining
req_place_3
For attending concerts, sporting events, or other large gatherings   
req_place_3: Large gatherings
req_place_4
When traveling internationally on an airplane
req_place_4: International air travel
req_place_5
When traveling domestically on an airplane, train, or bus
req_place_5: Domestic travel
req_place_6
For in-person learning in K-12 schools
req_place_6: K-12 schools
req_place_7
For in-person learning in colleges and universities
req_place_7: Colleges
req_place_8
To use a gym or other workout facility
req_place_8: Gyms
req_place_9
When using public transportation
req_place_9: Public transit
req_place_10
None of the above, I do not think that a COVID-19 vaccine should be required in any situation [ANCHOR AND EXCLUSIVE]
req_place_10: None of the above

// Page Break //

//BASE All respondents//
Item #: Q18-Q19
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
require. Some businesses, states, and cities are requiring that people get a COVID-19 vaccine before being able to visit certain places or engage in certain activities. 

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Variable Label: require: Vaccine requirements
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  RANDOMIZE require_1-require_10//
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
require_1
I think it is fair for individual businesses to require that their customers be vaccinated in order to go mask-less in their establishments.
require_1: Fair
require_2
I think that at this point all mask-wearing requirements should end and people should be able to decide when and where they feel comfortable going mask-less.
require_2: End mask-wearing
require_3
I think it is fair for businesses or events to have special “vaccinated-only” sections where certain areas and activities are restricted to fully vaccinated adults only.
require_3: Vaccinated-only sections
require_4
If there are vaccination requirements at different businesses or events, I trust people to be honest about their vaccination status and do not think people should be required to show proof they are fully vaccinated.
require_4: Trust in honor system
require_5
I think requiring people to show proof of their vaccination status violates HIPAA personal health privacy protections.
require_5: Violates HIPAA
require_6
I think that people that have religious or moral objections to vaccines should not be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
require_6: Objections
require_7
COVID-19 vaccine requirements are no different than requirements to get other vaccines that are required for travel or school.
require_7: Same as other vaccines
require_8
States or cities should be allowed to ban vaccine requirements for all businesses or activities.
require_8: Requirement bans
require_9
I think it is fair for a business to require its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
require_9: Require employees
require_10
I think vaccine requirements are unconstitutional.
require_10: Unconstitutional

Value
Value Label
1
Strongly disagree
2
Disagree
3
Neither agree nor disagree
4
Agree
5
Strongly agree
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE All respondents, except see note on incentives_5//
Item #: Q20
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
incentives. Some states are offering incentives to get a COVID-19 vaccine, such as lotteries, cash, college scholarships, amusement park tickets, free food or drinks, and other rewards. 

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Variable Label: BEH4_CET: Reasons: Waiting to get vaccinated
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  RANDOMIZE incentives_1-incentive_5
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
incentives_1
Vaccine incentives are fair for everyone. 
incentives_1: Fair
incentives_2
Vaccine incentives are effective at encouraging people to get vaccinated.
incentives_2: Effective
incentives_3
Vaccine incentives should not be used to encourage vaccinations.
incentives_3: Should not be used
incentives_4
Vaccine incentives decrease my trust in COVID-19 vaccines. 
incentives_4: Decrease trust
incentives_5
Vaccine incentives make me more likely to get vaccinated. [ONLY SHOW IF beh1_a_cet=0]
incentives_5: Increase likelihood

Value
Value Label
1
Strongly disagree
2
Disagree
3
Neither agree nor disagree
4
Agree
5
Strongly agree
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE All respondents//
Item #: Q21
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
july4. Over the July 4th holiday weekend, did you do any of the following?
Variable Label: july4: Behavior over July 4th holiday weekend
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  RANDOMIZE options
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
july4_1
Attended a barbeque
july4_1: BBQ
july4_2
Went to a parade
july4_2: Parade
july4_3
Went to a professional fireworks show
july4_1: Professional fireworks
july4_4
Set off your own fireworks
july4_1: Own fireworks
july4_5
Went to a sports game
july4_1: Sports game
july4_6
Went to a concert
july4_1: Concert
july4_7
Went to a large outdoor festival, carnival, fair, or amusement park
july4_1: Festival
july4_8
Traveled outside of your home city
july4_1: Traveled
july4_9
Flew on an airplane
july4_1: Flew
july4_10
Hosted or attended a large indoor gathering
july4_1: Indoor gathering

Value
Value Label
0
No
1
Yes
-99
Refused

// Page Break //

//BASE All respondents, except see note on approval_5//
Item #: Q22
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
approval. Pfizer and Moderna have recently applied for full approval from the FDA for their COVID-19 vaccines. In order to granted full approval from the FDA, six months of safety data is reviewed, more manufacturing controls are put in place, and routine inspections of vaccine production facilities are conducted.

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.

“Full FDA approval would…”

Variable Label: approval: Effect of FDA approval
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  RANDOMIZE statements//
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
approval_1
“…give me more confidence in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.”
incentives_1: Fair
approval_2
“…give me more confidence in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.”
incentives_2: Effective
approval_3
“…make me less concerned about long-term side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines.”
incentives_3: Should not be used
approval_4
“…make me more likely to trust the COVID-19 vaccines.”
incentives_4: Decrease trust
approval_5
“…make me more likely to get vaccinated.” [Show if beh1_cet=0 or -99]
incentives_5: Increase likelihood

Value
Value Label
1
Strongly disagree
2
Disagree
3
Neither agree nor disagree
4
Agree
5
Strongly agree
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip

// Page Break //

//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q23
Question Type: Multi punch 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
parent. Are you the parent of a child or children in the following age groups?
Variable Label: parent: Parent of children in following age groups
Value
Value Label
1
Younger than 6 months old
2
6 months to <2 years old
3
2 to 5 years old
4
6 to 11 years old
5
12 to 15 years old
6
16 to 17 years old
99
None of the above, I do not have children in those age groups [EXCLUSIVE]
-99
Refused

// Page Break //

//BASE: Parent= 5-6//
Item #: Q24
Question Type: Single punch grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
child_vaxxed_2. Has your child(ren) in the following age group(s) received a COVID-19 vaccine?

Note: If you have more than one child in the same age group, please answer for at least one of them.

Variable Label: child_vaxxed_2: Child vaccinated
//PROGRAMMING NOTE:  PIPE 5 AND/OR 6 responses from parent//
Value
Value Label

child_vaxxed_2_5
12 to 15 years old
child_vaxxed_5: 12 to 15 years old
child_vaxxed_2_6
16 to 17 years old
child_vaxxed_6: 16 to 17 years old
-99
Refused



Value
Value Label
0
No, has not received a COVID-19 vaccine
1
Yes, but has only received one shot out of the two required shots 
2
Yes, has received all of the required shots 
-99
Refused

// Page Break //


// BASE: All respondents// 
Item #: Q25
Question Type: Single punch grid 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.”// 
ptn_w21
 
We are interested in your opinion of a few messages about COVID-19 vaccination.  
 
For each of the below messages, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statement:
 
“I would share the information in the message with a friend or family member who wants to know more about COVID-19 vaccines.”
     
//PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE ORDER OF SUBITEMS IN THE GRID.//  
Variable Name  
Variable Text  
Variable Label  
ptn_w22_1
Pfizer and Moderna have both applied for full FDA approval of their COVID vaccines.
ptn_w22_1: Full approval
ptn_w22_2
Many Americans are struggling with financial challenges because even mild cases of COVID-19 can require medical attention and sometimes high-cost treatments. 
ptn_w22_2: Financial challenges
ptn_w22_3
Evidence shows the two-dose vaccines are effective against the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.
ptn_w22_3: Effective against Delta
ptn_w22_4
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks, including a small risk of treatable heart tissue inflammation in teens and young adults. 
ptn_w22_4: Benefits outweigh risk
ptn_w22_5
Years of research and vaccine safety monitoring on other vaccines show that side effects almost always happen within six weeks of vaccination.
ptn_w22_5: Side effects only within six week
  
Value  
Value Label  
1  
Strongly disagree  
2  
Disagree  
3  
Neither agree nor disagree  
4  
Agree  
5  
Strongly agree  
-99  
Refused