Poll: Majority of Thanksgiving hosts not requiring COVID-19 vaccine, masks

The majority of those hosting Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday will not be requiring guests to have received the coronavirus vaccine or wear masks, a new Hill-HarrisX poll found.

The poll shows 65 percent of Thanksgiving hosts are not requiring the vaccine or masks, with only 11 percent requiring both. 

Twenty-one percent say they will be demanding that guests be vaccinated, and 4 percent say they will require masks at gatherings. 

There is a partisan divide in the decision with 78 percent of Republicans in the poll saying neither the vaccine or masks are required at Thanksgiving with only 47 percent of Democrats saying the same. 

The poll also found 79 percent will be spending Thanksgiving with family or another group of people, with only 13 percent saying they don’t plan to be with others for the holiday. 

Health officials have encouraged those gathering in groups to get their shots, with Anthony Fauci previously saying those who are fully vaccinated can have a “normal” holiday season. 

Almost the same number of Republicans and Democrats are spending Thanksgiving with family or others, at 84 percent and 81 percent, respectively.

Only 10 percent of Republicans and 11 percent of Democrats are not planning to be with others for the holiday. 

The poll was conducted between Nov. 18 and Nov. 19, surveying 939 registered voters. The margin or error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.