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.

  • JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee
    26·
    4 months ago

    Wait until tetanus starts being a real issue again. It’s actually pretty scary shit. In advanced stages it can make your muscles contract and spasm so hard your bones can fracture.

      • JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee
        7·
        4 months ago

        That’s true, but I figure it’s common enough and an entirely preventable illness.
        It’s one of those examples of the vaccine working so well that the population completely forgot how bad it can be and that it’s a very slow and terrible way to die.

        • Revan343@lemmy.ca
          2·
          4 months ago

          Yeah, my only point was more that at least the antivaxxers will only be hurting themselves and (unfortunately) their children, not risking other people like with covid