Recent surveys indicate Americans are less likely to say childhood vaccinations are "very important," while a majority say they hold an unfavorable view of the healthcare system as a whole.
© Mandi Wright / © Tyler Orsburn/News Herald / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Washington, DC) – An increasing number of Americans are expressing so-called “vaccine skepticism” according to a new poll. And a majority of Americans have an “unfavorable” view of the US healthcare system — per a separate survey.
Gallup published the findings regarding vaccines. Their poll found fewer Americans now consider it important to get children vaccinated, when compared to previous years. In 2019, 58% of the survey’s respondents said it is “extremely important” to get kids shots. Now the number is down to 40% of parents who feel the same way. The trend lines are similar when it comes to whether or not the government “should require kids to be vaccinated.” Now, 51% agree with that statement, which is down from 62% in 2019.
Some of this may be in response to vaccine mandates and the surrounding sentiment during the COVID pandemic. Government agencies, private companies, and sports leagues all required vaccinations in some cases. That led to people losing their jobs sometimes. And yet the vaccine’s efficacy and use was routinely called into question, as it did not stop infection most often.
Meanwhile, a different survey centers on how Americans view the US healthcare system overall. YouGov says its findings indicate 53% of Americans hold a “very or somewhat” unfavorable view of the system. By comparison, 40% have a “very or somewhat” favorable view of the healthcare system. YouGov says men are more likely than women to hold a “favorable” view.
