This is the first holiday season in which the COVID-19 vaccine has been in widespread usage, and we're seeing the uncompromising politics of it play out in real time:

Our survey of 2,000 U.S. residents – conducted on Nov. 2 – examined how the COVID-19 vaccine has impacted people's relationships with their loved ones ahead of the holidays this year.

Nearly seven in 10 respondents (67%) said they feel they cannot go home for the holidays without getting vaccinated first.

Of the 65% who are fully vaccinated, six in 10 (58%) have reportedly cut off family members who refuse to get vaccinated, while 63% don't feel comfortable inviting unvaccinated relatives to their parties.

How to interpret these numbers?

Not very long ago, it almost certainly would have struck most people as bizarre that they might ever banish their family members from holiday gatherings for such reasons.

But the last year and a half has changed a lot of things in our society, and revealed fissures and fault lines we never knew existed.

Here's to hoping that next year's holiday season looks a lot different than this one. 🤞