Public confidence in childhood vaccination remains high across political lines in the United States, according to the latest data released by kff.org, though deep partisan divides persist regarding COVID-19 immunizations for children and pregnant individuals.
Parents Disagree on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety
- Consistent Long-Term Safety: Strong majorities of parents across the political spectrum remain confident in the clinical safety of foundational childhood vaccines like polio and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella).
- Partisan Polarization on COVID-19: Views on newer immunizations diverge sharply, with Democratic parents reporting significantly higher confidence in COVID-19 vaccine safety than Republican parents.
Partisan Divides Shape COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions While Core Childhood Immunizations Retain Broad Support
The latest tracking poll from kff.org examines public health attitudes following a series of high-profile federal events. These include an executive order from President Trump targeting childhood vaccine recommendations and a Senate investigation involving Dr. Anthony Fauci.
However, confidence drops regarding newer or seasonally adjusted inoculations. While majorities still support hepatitis B and influenza vaccines for children, Republican respondents show notably lower confidence than Democrats. The divide widens considerably concerning COVID-19 vaccines. Only 21% of Republicans express confidence in COVID-19 vaccine safety for children, compared to 77% of Democrats.
Pregnancy-related immunization views have also shifted downward over time. Currently, 39% of all adults and 37% of women of reproductive age express confidence that COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy, down from 53% and 48% respectively in May 2022. Concurrently, approximately one-third of the public has encountered revived, unverified claims linking the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy to increased first-trimester miscarriage risks.
Executive Order Intentions and Parental Perspectives on Spacing Shots
The August executive order signed by President Trump seeks to shift certain immunizations—such as influenza, hepatitis B, and COVID-19—away from routine schedules toward shared clinical decision-making, while also recommending separate doses for the currently combined MMR vaccine and reducing targeted childhood diseases from 17 to 11. Federal courts have temporarily blocked these administrative changes.
Public awareness of these policy maneuvers remains limited. Nearly six in ten adults report hearing little to nothing about the administration’s ongoing attempts to alter the childhood vaccine schedule. Among those with awareness, negative expectations outweigh positive ones roughly three to one, though large blocks of the population remain uncertain.
Regarding immunization scheduling, half of all parents incorrectly believe that children experience better health outcomes when vaccines are spaced out and multiple shots are avoided in a single clinical visit. This belief splits sharply along party lines: 68% of Democratic parents state there is no strong evidence supporting spaced-out schedules, whereas 69% of Republican parents believe children are healthier when shots are delayed or separated.
Among supporters of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement—who comprise 42% of the public—three-quarters maintain confidence in the safety of MMR and polio vaccines for children. Over half of MAHA supporters similarly endorse hepatitis B and flu vaccines, though only 28% express confidence in pediatric COVID-19 inoculations.
Weighing Benefits Against Risks Amid Changing Federal Guidance
Survey findings indicate that 82% of adults and 76% of parents overall agree that the clinical benefits of MMR vaccination clearly outweigh any potential risks. While partisan variations exist—with 24% of Republican parents and 14% of Democratic parents suggesting risks outweigh benefits—the vast majority of families continue to rely on established medical guidance for routine pediatric care.
References
- KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust. KFF
- Executive Order, The White House, August. The White House
