Vaccine confidence falls as belief in health misinformation grows: Survey

Individuals have much less confidence in vaccines to handle quite a lot of sicknesses than they did only a 12 months or two in the past, and extra folks settle for misinformation about vaccines and COVID-19, in keeping with the newest well being survey from the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania.

The survey performed October 5-12, 2023, with a panel of over 1,500 U.S. adults, finds that the variety of Individuals who suppose vaccines accepted to be used in the US are secure dropped to 71% from 77% in April 2021. The share of adults who do not suppose vaccines accepted within the U.S. are secure grew to 16% from 9% over that very same two-and-a-half-year interval.

Regardless of concerted efforts by news organizations, public health officials, scientists, and fact-checkers (together with APPC’s undertaking FactCheck.org) to counter viral misinformation about vaccination and COVID-19, the survey finds that some false or unproven claims about them are extra broadly accepted in the present day than two to 3 years in the past.

Though the proportion of the American public that holds these beliefs is, in some instances, nonetheless comparatively small, the survey finds development in misinformation acceptance throughout many questions relating vaccination.

“There are warning indicators in these knowledge that we ignore at our peril,” stated Kathleen Corridor Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart and director of the survey. “Rising numbers now mistrust health-protecting, life-saving vaccines.”

Highlights

• COVID-19 vaccine: Lower than two-thirds of Individuals (63%) suppose is it safer to get the COVID-19 vaccine than the COVID-19 illness, a decline from 75% in April 2021.
• Ivermectin: Over 1 / 4 (26%) incorrectly suppose ivermectin is an efficient remedy for COVID-19, up dramatically from 10% in September 2021.
• Autism: A small however rising quantity (16%) consider that “elevated vaccines are why so many youngsters have autism as of late,” up from 10% in April 2021.
• Return to regular: Requested after they anticipated to return to their regular, pre-COVID life, two-thirds (67%) say they have already got. Three-quarters (75%) say they by no means or not often put on a masks or face masking.

APPC’s Annenberg Science and Public Well being Data survey

The survey data come from the thirteenth wave of a nationally consultant panel of 1,559 U.S. adults, first empaneled in April 2021, performed for the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart by SSRS, an impartial market analysis firm. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being Data (ASAPH) survey was fielded October 5-12, 2023, and has a margin of sampling error (MOE) of ± 3.4 proportion factors on the 95% confidence stage.

All figures are rounded to the closest entire quantity and should not add to 100%. Mixed subcategories might not add to totals within the topline and textual content resulting from rounding.

The coverage middle has been monitoring the American public’s data, beliefs, and behaviors concerning vaccination, COVID-19, flu, RSV, and different consequential well being points via this survey panel over the previous two-and-a-half years. Along with Jamieson, the APPC staff on this survey consists of analysis analyst Shawn Patterson Jr., who analyzed the information; Patrick E. Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Well being and Threat Communication Institute, who developed the questions; and Ken Winneg, managing director of survey analysis, who supervised the fielding of the survey.

Rising acceptance of vaccine misinformation

Beliefs in vaccine misinformation are on the rise:

• Vaccinations affecting childhood autism: There’s been a decline within the quantity of people that know it’s false to say that “elevated vaccinations are why so many youngsters have autism as of late,” dropping to 65% from 71% in April 2021. The quantity of people that consider that that is true has grown to 16% from 10% over that interval. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) says that vaccines do not cause autism.

• Rising perception in false MMR-autism hyperlink: Requested whether it is true or false that vaccines given to youngsters for illnesses like measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) trigger autism, 12% incorrectly say that is true, up from 9% in June 2021, a statistically vital rise. Most individuals (70%) accurately say that this allegation is fake. In accordance with the CDC, vaccine specialists say “the MMR vaccine is not responsible for will increase within the variety of youngsters with autism.”

• Flu shot and COVID-19: There was a small however statistically vital improve within the quantity of people that incorrectly suppose that getting a flu shot will increase your danger of contracting COVID-19—9% say that is true, up from 6% in January 2023. As identified in a narrative by FactCheck.org, there may be no evidence a flu shot will increase the danger of COVID-19.

• Rising perception that vaccines include toxins: Greater than 1 in 10 folks (12%) now incorrectly consider it’s true that “vaccines usually are full of poisons and dangerous elements like ‘antifreeze,'” a big improve from 8% in April 2021. Though most individuals (73%) know that is false, that quantity has declined from 77% in June 2021. FactCheck.org notes that flu elements are safe on this story and writes concerning the elements in COVID-19 vaccines here. A take a look at the elements in vaccines is here.

• Ivermectin to deal with COVID-19: Over 1 / 4 (26%) incorrectly say ivermectin is an efficient remedy for COVID-19, up from 10% in September 2021. The share who know that is false additionally rose, to 37% from 27% in September 2021. General, the variety of people who find themselves not sure declined, to 38% from 63%. The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or accepted the use of ivermectin for treating or stopping COVID-19 in people or animals, and says present knowledge don’t present it’s efficient towards COVID-19.

• Most cancers and mRNA vaccines: 12% of these surveyed say it’s true that mRNA vaccines towards COVID-19 “trigger most cancers,” up from 9% in January 2023. The quantity who consider that is false remained regular at 58%. There is no such thing as a proof COVID-19 vaccines cause or “accelerate” most cancers, in keeping with FactCheck.org.

As well as, many have no idea that the flu vaccine can not provide the flu: Simply half of these surveyed (51%) know that the seasonal flu shot distributed within the U.S. can not provide you with flu, whereas practically 3 in 10 folks (29%) suppose that’s false. This discovering is statistically unchanged since January. The CDC says the flu vaccine cannot cause flu.

Much less confidence in vaccine security

• Declining perception that vaccines are secure: Though most individuals (71%) agree that vaccines accepted to be used within the U.S. are secure, that’s down considerably from 77% in April 2021. Extra folks (16%) suppose it false to state that vaccines within the U.S. are secure than in January 2022 (11%). FactCheck.org examines what is understood about vaccine safety.

• Much less confidence in COVID-19 vaccine: Lower than two-thirds (63%) say it’s safer to get the COVID-19 vaccine than to get the illness COVID-19, a big drop from 77% in November 2021. And the quantity of people that say it’s false to state that the vaccine is safer than the illness is as much as 21%, greater than doubling from 10% in April 2021.

Security of particular vaccines

The general public has broadly various opinions concerning the security of particular person vaccines—however a number of of these we requested about are perceived as much less secure in the present day than 14 months earlier in an August 2022 wave of this survey. The MMR, COVID-19, and pneumonia vaccines are all considered much less secure than within the earlier survey.

Beliefs within the security of particular person vaccines vary from 81% for the long-established vaccines for the seasonal flu and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) to 50% for the vaccine accepted in August by the FDA for pregnant folks to guard their infants from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The numerous declines are marked with an*:

• MMR vaccine*: 81% say the MMR vaccine is secure (down considerably from 88% in August 2022), whereas 9% say it’s unsafe and 10% aren’t certain.

• Flu vaccine: 81% say the flu vaccine is secure (no vital change from August 2022), whereas 11% say it’s unsafe and eight% aren’t certain.

• Shingles vaccine: 78% say the shingles vaccine is secure (no vital change from August 2022), whereas 7% say it’s unsafe and 15% aren’t certain.

• Pneumonia vaccine*: 74% say the pneumonia vaccine is secure (down considerably from 80% in August 2022), whereas 8% say it’s unsafe and 18% aren’t certain.

• HPV vaccine: 65% say the vaccine for HPV, human papillomavirus, is secure (no vital change from August 2022), whereas 11% say it’s unsafe and 24% aren’t certain.

• COVID-19 vaccine*: 66% say the COVID-19 vaccine is secure (down considerably from 73% in August 2022), whereas 24% say it’s unsafe and 10% aren’t certain.

• RSV vaccine for older adults: 62% say the RSV vaccine for folks 60 and older is secure, whereas 11% say it’s unsafe, and 27% aren’t certain. This vaccine was first accepted by the FDA in Might 2023; this query was not requested final 12 months.

• RSV for pregnant folks: Simply half (50%) say the vaccine given to pregnant folks to guard their infants from RSV is secure, whereas 13% say it’s unsafe, and over a 3rd (38%) aren’t certain. This vaccine was accepted by the FDA in August 2023; this query was not requested final 12 months.

Effectiveness of various vaccines

Public perceptions of the effectiveness of some vaccines have additionally declined over the previous 14 months. The perceived effectiveness of the vaccines for MMR, flu, pneumonia, and HPV all had statistically vital drops since August 2022 and are marked with an *. Massive percentages of persons are not sure of whether or not the brand new RSV vaccines are efficient. When requested how efficient these vaccines are at stopping symptomatic illness, survey respondents say,

• MMR vaccine*: 83% efficient (down considerably from 87% in August 2022)
• Flu vaccine*: 75% efficient (down considerably from 81% in August 2022)
• Shingles vaccine: 73% efficient (no vital change)
• Pneumonia vaccine*: 69% efficient (down considerably from 74% in August 2022)
• COVID-19 vaccine: 65% efficient (no vital change)
• HPV vaccine*: 61% efficient (down considerably from 66% in August 2022)
• RSV vaccine for older adults: 54% efficient (37% undecided)
• RSV vaccine for pregnant individuals to guard their infants from RSV: 42% efficient (47% undecided)

Lives returning to regular

Return to regular: Rising numbers of Individuals say they’ve returned to their regular, pre-COVID lives. Requested after they count on to have the ability to return to their regular, pre-COVID life, 67% say they have already got, considerably increased than in January (52%). Nevertheless, this isn’t true for a small however persistent group who see life as perpetually modified. One in 5 Individuals (20%) say they’ll by no means return to their regular, pre-COVID lives, greater than in June 2023 (16%).

Masks-wearing: Requested how typically you put on a masks or face masking indoors when with people who find themselves not a part of your family, 75% say by no means or not often (statistically unchanged from June)—with 53% of these saying they by no means put on one. One other 21% say they generally, typically, or at all times put on a masks or face masking, and 4% say they do not go locations the place they could are available contact with people who find themselves not of their family.