New Poll: 2 in 3 Voters Prefer Congressional Candidates Who Support Vaccine Access
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Eroding trust in federal health leadership and rising measles outbreaks bring vaccine policy into sharper focus ahead of the 2026 election
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2026) American voters overwhelmingly trust independent doctors and scientists on vaccines, prefer candidates who support vaccine access, and want immunization recommendations free of political interference, according to a new national poll.
The survey – conducted April 1-3, 2026, by Echelon Insights among 1,012 voters in the likely electorate – comes at a time when changes in vaccine policy and federal guidance are commanding increased national attention.
The findings suggest that Americans across political leanings hold clear views on vaccine access and medical expertise, and that shifts in these areas influence how they assess leadership ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Findings
Nearly 7 in 10 voters would be more likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who wants to maintain access to childhood vaccines (67%) over one who seeks to roll back access (9%).
A majority of voters (54%) say they would be less likely to support a candidate who seeks to roll back vaccine recommendations, even if they agree with that candidate on other issues.
9 in 10 voters say it’s important that vaccine recommendations are made by independent medical experts without political influence, including strong majorities of Republicans (86%), Independents (89%), Democrats (94%), and those favorable to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement (86%).
89% of all voters and 83% of those favorable to MAHA say it’s important to have easy access to vaccines, including availability at pharmacies and insurance coverage, without needing a doctor’s appointment.
69% of voters are concerned about the spread of measles, and 51% say recent federal changes to vaccine recommendations have made them less confident in political leaders’ protecting public health.
"The science on vaccines is well-established, and Americans recognize what’s at stake," said Candace DeMatteis, Vice President of Policy for the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, which commissioned the poll. "When national guidance changes or becomes unclear, people feel it quickly – whether it’s confusion about vaccine availability, extra steps to access care, or disruptions at school and work from preventable illness like measles. Voters are looking for consistency and clarity, and they want decisions about vaccines to be driven by medical experts they trust."
"The results are striking but not surprising," said Kristen Soltis Anderson, founding partner of Echelon Insights. "Even within the MAHA and MAGA coalitions, there is widespread support for ensuring vaccines are accessible. Actions that discourage vaccination or disrupt families’ access and options are deeply unpopular."
More details on the findings and methodology can be found at the following links:
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About the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease
The Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease (PFID) is a group of patients, providers, community organizations, academic researchers, business and labor groups, and infectious disease experts working to raise awareness of threats posed by infectious disease.
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