Growing Enthusiasm for RSV Vaccine Signals a Shift in Vaccine Acceptance

Currently, over half of U.S. adults (52%) believe the vaccine administered to pregnant individuals to safeguard their infants from RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is effective, a rise from 42% in October 2023, shortly after the CDC’s recommendation for the vaccine. Additionally, 61% consider the RSV vaccine for adults aged 60 and older to be effective, up from 54% in October 2023.

This increase in perceived effectiveness occurs despite no indications so far of a feared “tripledemic”—the simultaneous outbreak of flu, Covid-19, and RSV that overwhelmed emergency rooms during the fall and winter of 2022-23, potentially leading to over 100,000 deaths in the U.S. As of December 20, 2024, the CDC reports moderate levels of acute respiratory illnesses overall. However, flu season is underway, with rising case levels across the nation, Covid-19 activity ticking up from low levels in certain areas, and RSV cases remaining high and increasing in most regions, particularly among young children.

The positive trend in vaccine perception comes amid ongoing skepticism about vaccines’ efficacy and safety promoted by some nominees of president-elect Donald Trump for top health policy positions. Notably, Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that “no vaccine” is safe and effective, and CDC chief nominee Dave Weldon has echoed similar sentiments, promoting the discredited notion linking vaccines to autism.

The APPC survey results derive from a nationally representative sample of 1,771 U.S. adults surveyed from November 14-24, 2024, with a margin of error of ± 3.3 percentage points. More details about the survey can be found at the end of this news release or in the topline.

Vaccine Hesitancy Appears to Level Off

In recent years, there have been signs of increased hesitancy towards vaccines. However, several metrics from the November survey indicate a slight uptick or stability in the public’s acceptance of vaccination:

• 86% of respondents consider the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) to be safe, rising from 81% in October 2023. This recovery brings it closer to the 88% who viewed it as safe in August 2022.
• 83% believe the flu vaccine is safe, remaining unchanged since October 2023.
• 65% view the Covid-19 vaccine as safe, also unchanged since last fall.
• Perceived effectiveness for various vaccines has remained stable since October 2023.
• More than three-quarters of the population would advocate for various vaccines, when appropriate, for their families and households.

In addition, despite ongoing criticisms regarding the safety and efficacy of certain vaccines from some political figures, 90% of respondents state that it is essential for parents to vaccinate their children: 72% categorize it as very or extremely important, and 19% consider it somewhat important. Only 10% believe it’s not important for parents to immunize their children.

Comparing Flu Vaccine to Covid-19

The survey indicates that U.S. adults regard the seasonal flu vaccine as more effective at mitigating the risk of severe flu this season (75%) than the Covid booster is at reducing the danger of severe Covid (55%). There has been a marked increase in awareness that the flu vaccine might not completely prevent illness upon exposure but can lessen its severity (54%, increased from 48% in October 2023). There are fewer individuals who express uncertainty regarding the effects of a flu vaccine on someone later exposed to the flu (14%, down from 20%).

The data from November reveals fewer individuals have received or are planning to get the Covid booster when compared with the flu shot:

• Just over half of those surveyed (51%) have either received the seasonal flu vaccine (40%) or indicate they are very likely to (11%), while 38% have either received the latest Covid-19 booster (29%) or say they are very likely to (9%).
• The main reason cited for obtaining both the Covid booster and the flu shot is to shield oneself from illness (82% for Covid, 78% for flu).
• A greater number report getting their flu shot annually (76%) than those who say they get the Covid booster each time a new one is released (51%).
• 68% are aware they can receive both the Covid booster and the flu shot in a single visit to a healthcare facility or pharmacy, unchanged from October 2023, although there is a notable increase in those who are certain about this (44%, up from 38% in October 2023).

Flu Knowledge

• A large majority (80%) recognize that the effectiveness of the seasonal flu shot varies from year to year.
• While most (69%) feel this year’s flu vaccine is effective at lowering the risk of flu (same as October 2023), a higher percentage finds it ineffective this fall (20%) than last fall (15%).
  • Early reports indicate that this season’s flu vaccine may be less effective than last year’s: The CDC noted a 35% effectiveness in preventing hospitalization in high-risk groups based on data from five South American countries, a decrease from last year’s 51.9% effectiveness.
• 69% are aware there is benefit to receiving a flu shot even after November, while 19% remain uncertain.
• The number of people who understand that flu can still be transmitted even without symptoms has risen to 80%, up from 76% in January 2023. (The CDC mentions that some individuals can be infected with influenza viruses without displaying symptoms but can still spread the virus.)
• Most (71%) believe that the flu shot represents the best defense against seasonal flu.
• Nonetheless, only 42% contend that everyone over 6 months old should receive a flu shot, which remains the same as last year.

Beliefs About Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety

Long-established vaccines like the MMR, polio, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) typically receive high ratings in terms of effectiveness, safety, and recommendations for others to get vaccinated. Conversely, newer vaccines, such as the Covid-19 vaccine, or those for which public health guidance has recently altered—like the CDC’s recommendation that adults aged 50 and older receive a pneumonia vaccine—tend to be less familiar and often receive lower ratings from the public.

Recommendations for Vaccines. Below is a summary of the public’s outlook on recommending vaccines to others:

• MMR vaccine: 90% would likely recommend an MMR vaccine for a child in their household aged between 12-15 months or 4 to 6 years old.
• Polio vaccine: 88% would likely recommend a polio vaccine for a child in their household aged between 2 to 6 months old.
• Tdap vaccine: 85% would likely recommend a Tdap vaccine for an 11-12 year old child or an adult in their family.
• Shingles vaccine: 82% would likely recommend a shingles vaccine to someone aged 50 or older in their family.
• HPV vaccine: 79% would likely recommend…
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• HPV vaccine: There is a notable percentage of individuals who would suggest an HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine for children aged 11 or 12 within their households.
• Pneumonia vaccine: 77% would likely advise getting a pneumonia vaccine for those aged 50 or older in their families, which is a decrease from 84% who felt the same for those 65 and older in April 2022. The CDC recommended a lower age limit for this vaccine on October 23, 2024, just weeks before this survey was conducted.

Vaccine safety. Perspectives on vaccine safety among the public:

• MMR: 86% believe the MMR vaccine is safe, an increase from 81% in October 2023 (as previously noted).
• Flu: 83% consider the flu vaccine safe, which remains unchanged.
• Covid-19: 65% view the Covid-19 vaccine as safe, consistent with October 2023, but lower than the 73% recorded in August 2022.

Vaccine effectiveness. General perceptions of vaccine effectiveness have remained stable, except for RSV, which has shown an increase as highlighted earlier. Below are the percentages of people who believe these vaccines are effective, compared to data from October 2023 where applicable:

• MMR: 86% consider this vaccine effective (no change).
• Polio: 85%.
• Tdap: 80%.
• Flu: 75% (no change).
• Shingles: 74% (no change).
• Pneumonia: 71% (no change).
• HPV: 65% (no change).
• Covid-19: 65% (no change).
• RSV for adults 60 years and older: 61%, which is an increase from 54% in October 2023.
• RSV for pregnant individuals: 52%, an increase from 42% in October 2023.

APPC’s Annenberg Science and Public Health knowledge survey

The findings originate from the 22^nd phase of a nationwide representative survey involving 1,771 U.S. adults, conducted for the Annenberg Public Policy Center by SSRS, a market research firm. Most participants have been part of the panel since April 2021. To address member loss, smaller replenishment samples have been incorporated over time using a random sampling method. The latest replenishment in September 2024 added 360 new respondents. This particular round of the Annenberg Science and Public Health Knowledge (ASAPH) survey was conducted between November 14-24, 2024. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.3 percentage points, within a 95% confidence level. All statistics are rounded to the nearest whole number and may not sum to 100%. Combined subcategories might not total in the overall figures due to rounding.