New Poll Says Illinoisans Will Avoid Unvaccinated Friends

Let's say that you've gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, and your best friend hasn't. Are you more of a "live and let live" sort of person who is cool with others making their own decisions while you make yours, or do you have to end the friendship?

Apparently, this is a trickier question than it seems to be, at least according to the results of a new Google survey that was conducted by MyBioSource.com.

Before I give you the percentage of Illinoisans who say that they will most certainly avoid friends, family, and pretty much anyone else who's not received the COVID-19 vaccine(s), let's take a quick look at some vaccination numbers.

After popping around to various websites like the CDC's and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), I found that nationwide, about 45 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated. Here in Illinois, that number is higher--with nearly 50 percent of Illinoisans who are 12 years of age and up being fully vaxxed, and almost 60 percent having received one dose.

Looking over the MyBioSource.com's survey, the numbers say that 40 percent of those across the country who responded to the question say that if their best friend is not vaccinated the friendship is over.

Vaccinated Illinoisans seem to feel much more strongly about jettisoning pals who haven't gotten the vaccine, according to Patch.com:

A survey related last week by a biotechnical products distribution company found that 59 percent of Illinois residents who responded said they would avoid contact with friends and colleagues who are unvaccinated. The survey also found that 1 in 3 respondents support incentives to get people vaccinated. In Illinois, the latest incentive is a vaccine lottery offering $10 million total in cash prizes and scholarships.

Alaska led the nation in folks who'll ghost their unvaccinated friends and coworkers with 64 percent, Idaho had the least at 11 percent. The rest of the Midwest looks like this:

• Wisconsin (40%)
• Iowa (33%)
• Indiana (48%)
• Missouri (52%)
• Minnesota (46%)
• Michigan (55%)
• Kentucky (27%)