COVID-19 Current Events Tracker (CET)

ASPA COVID-19 PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
A campaign to increase vaccine acceptance and reinforce basic prevention measures

CET – Annotated Questionnaire (Wave 92)
Note: The questions below are the proposed questions for the 92nd wave of the Weekly
Current Events Tracker (CET). Questions highlighted in yellow will be asked every week;
questions highlighted in blue will be rotated into the survey on a monthly basis; and questions
highlighted in green are meant to be asked in this wave only or are being asked again to
update data on a variable of interest.
For the next section we would like to talk about current events.
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//PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE ORDER OF Q1/Q2
//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q1 
Question Type: Single punch 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” // 
hhs_trust: How much do you trust the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
to provide you with accurate information about the coronavirus or COVID?
Variable Label: hhs_trust: Trust in HHS 
Value 
Value Label 
1 
Not at all 
2 
Not very much 
3 
A fair amount 
4 
A great deal 
99
I am not familiar with HHS
-99 
Refused 

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//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q2 
Question Type: Single punch 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” // 
cdc_trust: How much do you trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to
provide you with accurate information about the coronavirus or COVID? 
Variable Label: cdc_trust: Trust in CDC 
Value 
Value Label 
1 
Not at all 
2 
Not very much 
3 
A fair amount 
4 
A great deal 

For internal communications only

99
-99 

I am not familiar with the CDC
Refused 

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//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q3
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh1_cet_r: Have you received your initial COVID vaccine series? The initial COVID vaccine
series could require one dose (i.e., Johnson & Johnson) or two doses (i.e., Pfizer, Moderna,
Novavax).
Variable Label: beh1_cet_r: Vaccination behavior
Value
Value Label
0
No, I have not received my
initial COVID vaccine series
1
Yes, but I have only received
one dose out of the two
required doses
2
Yes, I have received all of the
required doses in my initial
vaccine series
-99
Refused
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//BASE: beh1_cet_r=1 or 2//
Item #: Q4
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
vaccine_id: Which initial COVID vaccine did you receive?
Variable Label: vaccine_id: Vaccine ID
Value
Value Label
2
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen
3
Moderna
4
Pfizer-BioNTech
6
Novavax
5
Other
99
I do not remember
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip
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2

//BASE: beh1_cet_r=2 //
Item #: Q5
Question Type: Single punch grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
booster_uptake7: U.S. health officials and medical experts recommend additional COVID
doses after the initial vaccine series (two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax; or one dose of
Johnson & Johnson).
Boosters are additional doses you may have received after your initial series. Boosters were
available from August 2021 to the end of August 2022.
Updated vaccines are COVID vaccines reformulated to better target Omicron variants,
sometimes called “updated boosters” or “bivalent boosters.” Updated vaccines became
available in September 2022.
Have you received a COVID vaccine booster or updated vaccine?
Variable Name
booster_uptake7_1

booster_uptake7_2

Value
0
1
-99
-100

Variable Text
I have received one or more booster
dose(s) (available August 2021August 2022)
I have received an updated vaccine
(available starting September 2022)

Variable Label
booster_uptake7_1: Booster

booster_uptake7_2:
Updated vaccine

Value Label
No
Yes
Refused
Valid skip

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//BASE: beh1_cet_r=2//
Item #: Q6
Question Type: Dropdown menu
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
last_dose: Approximately when did you receive your most recent COVID vaccine, booster, or
updated vaccine dose? If you do not remember the exact date, give your best guess.
Variable Label: last_dose: Date of most recent dose
Participants select date from range: December 1, 2020 to present
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//BASE: beh1_cet_r=2 and last_dose before September 1, 2022 //

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Item #: Q7
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
booster_likely_v4: What is the likelihood that you will get an updated COVID vaccine?
Updated vaccines are COVID vaccines reformulated to better target Omicron variants,
sometimes called “updated boosters” or “bivalent boosters.” Updated vaccines became
available in September 2022.
Variable Label: booster_likely_v4: updated vaccine uptake likelihood
Value
Value Label
1
Very unlikely
2
Somewhat unlikely
3
Neither likely nor unlikely
4
Somewhat likely
5
Very likely
-99
Refused
-100
Valid skip
// Page Break //
//BASE: beh1_cet_r=2 and last_dose before September 1, 2022 //
Item #: Q8
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
boost_when: How soon will you get an updated COVID vaccine?
Variable Label: boost_when: Wait to get vaccinated
Value
Value Label
1
I will get an updated vaccine as soon as I can
2
I will wait to get an updated vaccine for one or more reasons
3
I will never get an updated vaccine
-99
Refused
-100
Valid Skip
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//BASE: beh1_cet_r=0 OR -99//
Item #: Q9
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh2a_cet: What is the likelihood that you will get a COVID vaccine?
Variable Label: beh2a: Intention to get vaccinated
Value
Value Label

4

1
2
3
4
5
-99
-100

Very unlikely
Somewhat unlikely
Neither likely nor unlikely
Somewhat likely
Very likely
Refused
Valid Skip

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//BASE: beh1_cet_r=0 OR -99//
Item #: Q10
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
beh3a_cet_r: How soon will you get vaccinated?
Variable Label: beh3a_cet_r: Wait to get vaccinated
Value
Value Label
1
I will get a vaccine as soon as I can
2
I will wait to get a vaccine for one or more reasons
3
I will never get a COVID vaccine
-99
Refused
-100
Valid Skip
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//BASE: All respondents //
Item #: Q11
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
phe_aware: The federal government declared a Public Health Emergency related to COVID in
2020, and now plans to let the emergency declaration expire in May 2023 to reflect the
changing circumstances of the pandemic.
Have you seen or heard any news about the end of the public health emergency, or not?
Variable Label: phe_aware: aware of the end of public health emergency declaration
Value
Value Label
0
No, I have not seen or heard news about the end of the public
health emergency
1
Yes, I have seen or heard news about the end of the public
health emergency
-99
Refused
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5

//BASE: All respondents //
Item #: Q12
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
phe_cost_aware: The federal government declared a Public Health Emergency related to
COVID in 2020, and now plans to let the emergency declaration expire in May 2023 to reflect
the changing circumstances of the pandemic.
Have you heard that the end of the public health emergency will result in some COVID-related
costs no longer being covered?
Value
0
1
-99

Value Label
No
Yes
Refused

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//BASE: All respondents //
Item #: Q13
Question Type: Single punch
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
phe_timing: The federal government declared a Public Health Emergency related to COVID in
2020, and now plans to let the emergency declaration expire in May 2023 to reflect the
changing circumstances of the pandemic. When the public health emergency ends, insurance
companies will no longer be required to completely cover the cost of COVID vaccines, testing,
and treatments.
Thinking about this, which of the following statements best fits with your opinion?
Variable Label: phe_timing: timing of public health emergency ending
Value Value Label
1
May 2023 is the right time for the public health emergency declaration to end.
2
The public health emergency declaration should continue after May 2023.
3
The public health emergency declaration should have already ended.
-99
Refused
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//BASE: All respondents //
Item #: Q14
Question Type: Single punch grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
uninsured_perc2: The federal government declared a Public Health Emergency related to
COVID in 2020, and now plans to let the emergency declaration expire in May 2023 to reflect

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the changing circumstances of the pandemic. When the public health emergency ends,
insurance companies will no longer be required to completely cover the cost of COVID
vaccines, testing, and treatments.
Thinking about this, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
//PROGRAMMING NOTE: randomize variables in grid//
Variable Name
Variable Text
uninsured_perc2_1 I would be concerned about being able
to afford treatment if I got COVID and
treatment wasn’t free
uninsured_perc2_2 I would be less likely to get tested for
COVID if I had to pay for it.
uninsured_perc2_3 The end of the public health emergency
is a sign that COVID is becoming a less
important public health issue.
uninsured_perc2_5 I would be less likely to get an updated
vaccine if it wasn’t free.
Value  
1  
2
3
4
5  
-99

Variable Label
uninsured_perc2_1: Afford
treatment
uninsured_perc2_2: Less
likely to get tested
uninsured_perc2_3: Less
important public health issue
uninsured_perc2_5: Plan to
get vaccine

Value Label  
Strongly disagree  
Somewhat disagree
Neither agree nor disagree  
Somewhat agree
Strongly agree  
Refused

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//BASE: All respondents//   
Item #: Q15  
Question Type: Single punch grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //   
vax_sched: If it were recommended by U.S. public health officials, how likely would you be to
get a COVID vaccine…
Variable Name
vax_sched_1
vax_sched_2
vax_sched_3

Variable Text
Every six months
Once a year
As recommended to address new variants

Variable Label
vax_sched_1: 6 months
vax_sched_2: 1 year
vax_sched_3: As needed

Value    Value Label

7

1   
2   
3   
4   
5
-99   

Very unlikely
Somewhat unlikely
Neither likely nor unlikely

Somewhat likely
Very likely
Refused

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//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q16-Q20
Question Type: Single punch grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.” //
misinform: How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
//PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE ITEMS. Split grid across four pages (every 5
questions) //
Variable Name
Variable Text
Variable Label
misinform_2
If someone gets COVID and recovers, they
misinform_2: Already had
don't need to get a COVID vaccine.
COVID-19
misinform_3
Getting a COVID vaccine can give people
misinform_3: Give you
COVID.
COVID-19
misinform_5
In order to be authorized for use, the COVID misinform_5: Authorization
vaccines must go through extensive testing
process
over three phases of clinical trials with
thousands of participants.
misinform_6
The COVID vaccines include microchips used misinform_6: Microchips
to track people.
misinform_7
COVID vaccines alter people’s DNA.
misinform_7: Alter DNA
misinform_9
Natural immunity is healthier and more
misinform_9: Natural
effective than vaccine-induced immunity.
immunity
misinform_10
If everyone around you is immune, then you misinform_10: Everyone is
don't need to be vaccinated.
immune
misinform_11
Vaccines can cause autism.
misinform_11: Autism
misinform_12
Once someone receives the COVID vaccine, misinform_12: Immune for
they're immune for life.
life
misinform_14
COVID vaccines can cause a short fever,
misinform_14: Severe
headache, fatigue, sore arm or chills,
reactions rare
especially after the second dose. Other
reactions are extremely rare.
misinform_17
Many people have died from the COVID
misinform_17: Vaccine
vaccines.
causes deaths
misinform_18
COVID vaccines can cause infertility.
misinform_18: Infertility

8

misinform_19
misinform_23

misinform_25
misinform_26
misinform_27
misinform_29
misinform_31
misinform_32

Value
1
2
3
4
5
99
-99

Getting a COVID vaccine while pregnant can misinform_19: Miscarriage
cause a miscarriage.
COVID vaccines contain aborted human fetal misinform_23: Vaccines
tissue.
contain aborted fetal
tissue
Ivermectin can be used to prevent or treat
misinform_25: Ivermectin
COVID.
Once someone has had COVID, they’re
misinform_26: Postimmune for life.
infection immunity
If someone gets COVID and has few or no
misinform_27: Long
symptoms, they can’t get long COVID.
COVID
COVID vaccines were rushed into production, misinform_29: Rushed
so we don’t really know if they’re safe.
production
The need for updated COVID vaccines is proof misinform_31: Original
that the original vaccines do not work.
vaccines don’t work
If someone has had their initial series of
misinform_32: Do not need
COVID vaccines, they do not need an updated updated vaccine
vaccine.

Value Label
Strongly disagree
Somewhat disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat agree
Strongly agree
Don’t know
Refused

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//BASE: All respondents//
Almost all of the statements you saw on the previous pages were false. The only true
statements were “In order to be authorized for use, the COVID vaccines must go through
extensive testing over three phases of clinical trials with thousands of participants” and “COVID
vaccines can cause a short fever, headache, fatigue, sore arm or chills, especially after the
second dose. Other reactions are extremely rare.” The other statements were examples of
misinformation about COVID and vaccines.
Please visit vaccines.gov or cdc.gov/coronavirus to learn more about COVID vaccines.
// Page Break //

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// PROGRAMMING NOTE: RANDOMIZE ORDER OF FOLLOWING QUESTIONS //
//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q21
Question Type: Single punch grid
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.”// 
ptn_w92_1: We are interested in your opinion of a few messages about COVID.
For the below message, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
A COVID vaccine gives you added protection from severe COVID-related illness,
hospitalization, and death.
Variable Name   Variable Text  
I would share the information in the message with a
ptn_w92_share_1 friend or family member who wants to know more
about COVID vaccines.
ptn_w92_motiv_1 This message is a convincing reason to get an
updated COVID vaccine.
ptn_w92_diff_1 This message was difficult to understand.
ptn_w92_believ_1 This message was believable.

Value  
1  
2
3
4
5  
-99

Variable Label  
ptn_w92_share_1:
Would share
message
ptn_w92_effect_1:
Reason to get vax
ptn_w92_diff_1:
Difficult to understand
ptn_w92_believ_1:
Believable

Value Label
Strongly disagree  
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree  
Agree
Strongly agree  
Refused

// Page Break //
//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q22
Question Type: Single punch grid 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.”// 
ptn_w92_2: We are interested in your opinion of a few messages about COVID.
For the below message, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:

10

The longer it’s been since you had COVID or got a COVID vaccine, the more likely it is
that your immunity has waned over time—and the less protection you may have.
Variable Name  

Variable Text  
I would share the information in the message with a
ptn_w92_share_2 friend or family member who wants to know more
about COVID vaccines.
ptn_w92_motiv_2 This message is a convincing reason to get an
updated COVID vaccine.
ptn_w92_diff_2
This message was difficult to understand.
ptn_w92_believ_2 This message was believable.

Value  
1  
2
3
4
5  
-99

Variable Label  
ptn_w92_share_2:
Would share
message
ptn_w92_effect_2:
Reason to get vax
ptn_w92_diff_2:
Difficult to understand
ptn_w92_believ_2:
Believable

Value Label  
Strongly disagree  
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree  
Agree
Strongly agree  
Refused

// Page Break //
//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q23
Question Type: Single punch grid 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.”// 
ptn_w92_3: We are interested in your opinion of a few messages about COVID.
For the below message, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
In November, unvaccinated adults were 18x more likely to be hospitalized from COVID
than people who were up to date with their vaccines.
Variable Name  

Variable Text  
I would share the information in the message with a
ptn_w92_share_3 friend or family member who wants to know more
about COVID vaccines.
ptn_w92_motiv_3 This message is a convincing reason to get an
updated COVID vaccine.

Variable Label  
ptn_w92_share_3:
Would share
message
ptn_w92_effect_3:
Reason to get vax

11

ptn_w92_diff_3

This message was difficult to understand.

ptn_w92_believ_3 This message was believable.

Value  
1  
2
3
4
5  
-99

ptn_w92_diff_3:
Difficult to understand
ptn_w92_believ_3:
Believable

Value Label  
Strongly disagree  
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree  
Agree
Strongly agree  
Refused

// Page Break //
//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q24
Question Type: Single punch grid 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.”// 
ptn_w92_4: We are interested in your opinion of a few messages about COVID.
For the below message, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
People at higher risk for severe COVID illness can help protect themselves by getting
vaccinated, wearing masks in public places, and avoiding poorly ventilated spaces.
Variable Name  

Variable Text  
I would share the information in the message with a
ptn_w92_share_4 friend or family member who wants to know more
about COVID vaccines.
ptn_w92_motiv_4 This message is a convincing reason to get an
updated COVID vaccine.
ptn_w92_diff_4
This message was difficult to understand.
ptn_w92_believ_4 This message was believable.
Value  
1  
2
3
4

Variable Label  
ptn_w92_share_4:
Would share
message
ptn_w92_effect_4:
Reason to get vax
ptn_w92_diff_4:
Difficult to understand
ptn_w92_believ_4:
Believable

Value Label  
Strongly disagree  
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree  
Agree

12

5  
-99

Strongly agree  
Refused

// Page Break //
//BASE: All respondents//
Item #: Q25
Question Type: Single punch grid 
// Soft Prompt: “We would like your response to this question.”// 
ptn_w92_5: We are interested in your opinion of a few messages about COVID.
For the below message, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
The more often you get COVID, the higher your risks are for complications—such as long
COVID.
Variable Name  

Variable Text  
I would share the information in the message with a
ptn_w92_share_5 friend or family member who wants to know more
about COVID vaccines.
ptn_w92_motiv_5 This message is a convincing reason to get an
updated COVID vaccine.
ptn_w92_diff_5
This message was difficult to understand.
ptn_w92_believ_5 This message was believable.
Value  
1  
2
3
4
5  
-99

Variable Label  
ptn_w92_share_5:
Would share
message
ptn_w92_effect_5:
Reason to get vax
ptn_w92_diff_5:
Difficult to understand
ptn_w92_believ_5:
Believable

Value Label  
Strongly disagree  
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree  
Agree
Strongly agree  
Refused

13