Approximately half of workers in America are now in favor of vaccine requirements at their workplaces, according to a new poll from The Associated press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Thirty-four new deaths and 3,425 new COVID-19 positive test results were reported Thursday morning for Mississippi. The results now place all top-10 one-day totals for the state within the period of Aug. 10-26.

The state has now reported 423,599 cases and 8,214 deaths over the course of the pandemic.

Thirty-one new cases were reported for Lincoln County. The county has now had 4,689 cases and 122 deaths.

Forty-seven percent of in-person workers are in favor of vaccine mandates, while 26% are opposed. Of remote workers, 59% are in favor of vaccine mandates for people working in-person at their workplace.

Similar findings were determined for workplace mask mandates — 50% in favor and 29% opposed.

About 6 in 10 college graduates — who are more likely to have jobs that can be done remotely — support both mask and vaccine mandates at their workplaces, compared with about 4 in 10 workers without college degrees.

Some 73% of black workers and 59% of Hispanic workers support mask mandates, compared with 42% of white workers. About 44% of white workers support vaccine mandates, while 53% of black and Hispanic workers support them.

Analysts at Lending Tree LLC analyzed vaccine survey data to determine why people across the country are choosing not to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

In Mississippi, where 26% of the population is still unvaccinated, data showed:

• 53% are worried about side effects. This number is 55% nationwide.
• 22% don’t believe they need it.
• 30% are waiting to see if it is safe.
• 35% don’t trust COVID-19 vaccines; nationally this has increased from 37% to 42% since early August.
• 26% don’t trust the government; nationally, distrust rose from 28% to 34% since early August.
• 10% don’t think COVID-19 is a big threat; nationally, 20% don’t think it is a threat.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.