Life in the Time of COVID-19: Valentines and Vaccines

Many people in the United States (and elsewhere around the world) are looking forward to 2021 being the year that life gets back to “normal” or as it was B.C. (Before COVID-19). However, with over 26 million confirmed cases, nearly 450,000 deaths from the virus in the U.S. alone, and new variants popping up, it remains to be seen when “normalcy” will return. There are bright spots on the horizon in the U.S.: Multiple vaccines have been developed and approved by the FDA for emergency use authorization and are currently being administered to protect against this potentially deadly virus. And Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

How, if at all, will those in the U.S. celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? How many have already been vaccinated, and how many intend to get vaccinated when they are eligible? IntelliSurvey recently conducted an online survey of 971 adults in the U.S to find the answers to these and other questions.

Valentine’s Day 2020 versus 2021

Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic will not impact their Valentine’s Day plans this year, while a similar percentage (43%) report that it will. Another 10% aren’t sure if their plans will be impacted by the virus.

When asked how they celebrated Valentine’s Day in 2020, 16% of survey respondents indicated that they did not celebrate at all, and 3% could not remember what they did. Among those who did celebrate, the most common ways of observing the holiday were buying candy (42%) and buying a Valentine’s Day card (41%). More than one quarter (27%) also indicated that they had gone out to dinner or another meal, and the same percentage (27%) purchased flowers for their sweetie. One quarter (25%) made a special dinner or other meal.

When asked how they intend to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2021, 12% don’t anticipate celebrating this year, and in line with the results above, 9% aren’t sure what they will do. Buying candy and a Valentine’s Day card are still the top two ways respondents plan to celebrate (38% and 36%, respectively). However, likely because of COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining, fewer Americans plan to go out to dinner or another meal (20% vs. 27% last year), while more (14% vs. 12% last year) plan to order a special dinner or meal for delivery or takeout or make a meal (27% vs. 25%  last year).

Testing 1, 2, 3

Although vaccinations are vital to containing the virus, testing is also an important factor. More than half (57%) of survey respondents indicated that they have not been tested for the COVID-19 virus. Those who have been tested are most likely to have gotten the “long test” (31%), which is the molecular test that takes 1-3 days to obtain results. Smaller numbers (12%) report having taken the “rapid results” or antigen test. Home testing has only recently been made available in the U.S., which is reflected in the survey results with only 2% having taken a home test. Testing for antibodies, which indicates if one has already had the virus, are also less common, with only 3% of study respondents reporting that they have been tested for antibodies.

Vaccination Status

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. has been slower than anticipated, and with the two most readily-available vaccines requiring two doses, it will likely take several months before most people will be fully inoculated.  

As shown in the following chart, a majority (59%) of study respondents indicated that they have not yet received or scheduled their first vaccination because they are not yet eligible.  Another 19% are eligible, but have not yet received or scheduled their first vaccine. Ten percent (10%) have scheduled, but not yet received their first vaccine, while another 10% already have. Only 2% of study respondents have received both their first and second vaccines.

Likelihood of Getting the Vaccine

Those who reported that they had not yet scheduled or received a COVID-19 vaccine were asked their likelihood of getting vaccinated when eligible. Sixty percent (60%) indicated that they definitely or probably will get the vaccine, while another 23% reported that they probably or definitely will not get vaccinated. Nearly 1 in 5 (17%) aren’t sure/might or might not get the vaccine.

Vaccine eligibility and scheduling varies by state.  For state-by-state information on eligibility and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine, please click here.

Respondents for this survey were collected via Lucid Marketplace.