U.S. state lawmaker support for COVID-19 vaccine policies during the pandemic

We examined how political, religious, and sociodemographic factors shaped U.S. state lawmakers support for COVID-19 vaccination policies during the pandemic. Using data from a 2021 survey of state lawmakers from across all 50 states (n = 941), we analyzed attitudes about four COVID-19 vaccination policies: universal vaccine mandates, targeted mandates for specific populations, proof-of-vaccination requirements for access to certain public services, and employer-imposed vaccination mandates. Multivariate analyses showed that partisan affiliation was the strongest predictor of lawmakers' policy attitudes although targeted mandates received more bipartisan support than universal ones. Conservative Christian religious beliefs, education, race, and age were also independently associated with policy views. These findings underscore the extent to which political and social identities influenced pandemic response policies. Support for vaccine mandates varied not only between but within parties, suggesting a more nuanced landscape than is often assumed. Public health leaders aiming to engage policy makers on vaccination and other contentious health issues should tailor their strategies to reflect this heterogeneity.