The partisan divide on vaccine falsehoods threatens the health of children nationwide.

Public sentiment on the importance of safe, lifesaving childhood vaccines has significantly declined in the US since the pandemic—which appears to be solely due to a nosedive in support from people who are Republican or those who lean Republican, according to new polling data from Gallup.

In 2019, 52 percent of Republican-aligned Americans said it was “extremely important” for parents to get their children vaccinated. Now, that figure is 26 percent, falling by half in just five years. In comparison, 63 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners said it was “extremely important” this year, down slightly from 67 percent in 2019.

  • Convict45@lemmy.worldEnglish
    32·
    5 months ago

    I suppose it’s good news that this belief hurts them the most, but it’s also a public health problem.

    • Chocrates@lemmy.world
      15·
      5 months ago

      Yeah, their children will be wracked with disease complications and the whole country will be on the hook to help care for them.

      • ImWaitingForRetcons@lemm.ee
        12·
        5 months ago

        Even worse, it forms a reservoir of disease that the most vulnerable of the population, those who have not/cannot be vaccinated, will suffer tremendously from.