According to a new report by Gallup Research, belief in the importance of childhood vaccines has dropped significantly since 2019.

The poll asks, “How important is it that parents get their children vaccinated?” In 2019, 84% of respondents said it was either “extremely” or “very” important. That rate fell to 69% in the survey taken between July 1 and 21 this year. By contrast, 94% of respondents believed childhood vaccinations were extremely or very important in 2001.

The drastic decrease falls primarily along partisan lines. Among those who believe childhood vaccinations are extremely important, Democrat and Democratic-leaning Independents have remained relatively stable, with 66% in 2001, 67% in 2019 and 63% in 2024.

In 2001, 62% of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents believed childhood vaccinations were extremely important. By 2019, that rate fell to 52%. In the 2024 survey, it is at 26%.

A rising number of Americans are expressing fears about the general safety of vaccines. In 2001, only 6% of respondents believed that vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they were designed to prevent. In 2019, that rate almost doubled to 11%. Currently, one in five (20%) Americans hold that belief.

Like other indicators, this massive swing is partisan. In 2001, just 6% of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents believed vaccines were more dangerous than the diseases they were designed to prevent. Today, 31% hold that belief. Only 5% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents currently hold the view, a rate identical to that of 2001.

More information on the report, including methodology and other findings, can be found here.