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Examining political differences in perceptions of vaccine safety and effectiveness

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Examining political differences in perceptions of vaccine safety and effectiveness

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Vaccine perceptions can influence acceptance and uptake. Dr. Dror Walter, with the Department of Communication at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and colleagues examined these perceptions using data from a national probability sample of 1,763 U.S. adults surveyed in November 2024. The study was published online in the American Journal of Public Health on Sept. 10, 2026.

"Previous research examining associations with vaccine hesitancy has primarily measured perceptions of science and scientists in terms of trust. However, analyses of contemporary arguments on vaccine hesitancy suggest that resistance extends beyond mistrust or doubts about scientists' competence," says Walter.

Notably, respondents rated the MMR vaccine as the safest and most effective, while the COVID-19 vaccine received the lowest ratings for both safety and effectiveness. Republicans generally reported less favorable perceptions of vaccine safety and effectiveness than Democrats, particularly for the COVID-19 vaccine. The findings showed that positive views of science and scientists were associated with higher perceived safety and effectiveness of the MMR, flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Explaining the value of this approach, Walter says, "Our analysis shows that perceiving scientists as unbiased mattered more in Republicans' assessments of the COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness but less so (compared with Democrats) in the case of the MMR's effectiveness.



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