Vaccine trust plunges in U.S., with misinformation drowning out truth: survey – PennLive

Americans trust in a variety of vaccines has fallen significantly in just a few years even with more fact-checking and pleas from doctors in response to viral misinformation, according to a recent survey.

The number of U.S. adults who believe vaccines approved for use in the United States are safe fell to 71%, down from 77% in April of 2021.

The percentage who believe they are unsafe grew to 16% nearly double the level of about two-and-a-half years ago, the survey found.

The survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania involved about 1,500 adults in the United States.

It also found that only 63% of Americans believe it is safer to get the COVID-19 vaccine than to get the disease, down from 75% in April, 2021.

The declines came despite concerted efforts by news organizations, public health officials, scientists, and fact-checkers to counter viral misinformation about vaccination and Covid-19, the center said in a news release.

There are warning signs in these data that we ignore at our peril, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and director of the survey. Growing numbers now distrust health-protecting, life-saving vaccines.

The survey found that 26% of respondents incorrectly think Ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19, up dramatically from 10% in April, 2021.

It also found a small but growing number 16% believe increased vaccines are why so many kids have autism these days. Thats up from 10% in 2021.

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Vaccine trust plunges in U.S., with misinformation drowning out truth: survey - PennLive