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.

  • LunchMoneyThief@links.hackliberty.org
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    1 month ago

    follow guidance on COVID-19 provided by medical authorities

    My, what a gentle way to retell events. It was just guidance. That’s all. Just guidance.

    Unrelated story: I know somebody who went to a private christian school. He tells me that he probably would have remained fairly neutral on religion …if not for the experience of having Jesus rammed into his cranium on a daily basis. He is now a rather staunch athiest. A few of his classmates have a similar experience. It’s as though forcing shit onto people can lead to them closing off from whatever it is that you’re trying to force onto them. Totally unrelated to what I said above though. Don’t overthink it.

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      So you’re basically saying you’re an anti-vaxxer and you think taking vaccines is a religion?

      • LunchMoneyThief@links.hackliberty.org
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        1 month ago

        Not really, and not really. But my views have shifted in ways I never would have expected over the last four years.

        If lemmy sees this and wants to use me as a punching bag, I’d understand.

        I’ve considered many times initiating the topic, but each time I just don’t envision the conversation being productive.

        • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          We know what “guidance” meant here to non-anti-vaxxers. So yeah, taking the opportunity to turn it into a weird cryptic statement will get you this kind of reaction.