Poll Finds Americans Trust Vaccines

A bipartisan majority of American adults believe vaccines are safe and that children should receive them to attend school, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted for six days in February. 

Most Americans (84%), including 92% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans, said vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella are safe for children. Reuters found the responses were little changed from when the question was asked in the same poll in 2020.

Additionally, 74% said the government should require healthy children to be vaccinated to attend school, and less than a quarter (23%) said unvaccinated children should be allowed in schools. Nearly all states mandate vaccination for school enrollment, with some limited exemptions. Less than one-third (29%) supported reducing the number of recommended vaccines for children.

These poll findings come as America is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in 30 years, largely driven by unvaccinated minors. As of Feb. 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 1,130 measles cases in 27 states this year. (The CDC is aware of probable measles cases still being reported by jurisdictions and this number is likely to grow higher.)