Overview
- Sixty‑three percent of U.S. adults say they are highly confident childhood vaccines prevent serious illness, according to new Pew data.
- On who should shape childhood vaccine policy, 71% of Republicans and 46% of Democrats say parents should decide, while Democrats are far more likely to prioritize medical experts.
- Opposition to the updated COVID‑19 shot is strongest among Republicans, with 83% saying they do not want it, compared with 44% of Democrats, and 59% of Americans overall saying they plan to skip it.
- More than four in ten Americans report hearing nothing about the CDC’s October update on COVID‑19 vaccination, and 63% say the change has not affected their decision about getting the shot.
- Large majorities in both parties say the MMR vaccine’s benefits outweigh risks (92% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans), even as Republican support for school MMR requirements declines during this year’s measles outbreaks.