New Poll: 9 in 10 Americans Say Policymakers Must Protect Vaccine Access
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 23
Clear consensus across political viewpoints reveals strong support for vaccines amid concerns about political interference in scientific decision-making
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 9, 2026) – An overwhelming majority of Americans across political leanings say vaccines are essential for public health and want policies that ensure continued access and expert guidance, according to new bipartisan polling conducted by Echelon Insights and Impact Research. The poll examined more than 1,000 voters' views on vaccine access, guidance, and decision-making.
Key Findings:
89% say vaccines are essential for public health — a view that transcends partisan divides with 82% of Republicans, 89% of independents and 97% of Democrats in agreement.
93% agree that every American should be able to protect themselves and their family with vaccines that are available, accessible, and affordable – without other barriers.
92% believe policymakers should ensure all Americans can continue getting access to, and health insurance coverage for, approved vaccines recommended by their doctor. That includes 85% of Trump voters favorable to the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement.
78% believe political influence is affecting scientific decision-making in vaccine policy, and 60% are concerned that people who want to get vaccinated are no longer able to because of changes in or confusion around recommendations from the federal government.
Personal doctors and family pediatricians remain American voters’ most trusted source for accurate guidance and information (92%), followed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (78%).
"These findings make clear that Americans expect vaccine policy grounded in science, evidence, and expertise, but don’t feel that’s what they’re getting," said Candace DeMatteis, Policy Director for the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, which commissioned the poll. "Across every demographic and political leaning, voters are telling us they want to maintain access and trust in vaccines. That's a strong message for policymakers: Listen to medical experts and lead with clarity."
"These survey results remind us to look past the political noise to the truth about how voters think about vaccines,” said Kristen Soltis Anderson, Founding Partner of Echelon Insights. “Even among the important 'Make America Healthy Again' voter base, three-quarters say they are comfortable getting a vaccine if their doctor recommends it for them. There is widespread, cross-partisan belief that Americans should be able to protect themselves against disease by accessing vaccines without barriers getting in the way."
“These numbers reflect that the overwhelming majority of Americans view vaccines through a practical lens," said Molly Murphy, President of Impact Research. "Support for maintaining access to FDA-approved vaccines and coverage for doctor-recommended immunizations is strong across party lines – for the average American, vaccines are not a political issue, they are viewed as safe and necessary.”
Echelon Insights and Impact Research conducted the survey on behalf of the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease from Jan. 27-30, 2026, among 1,013 voters in the likely electorate nationwide. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.4 percentage points.
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.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Burke
(301) 801-9847
It’s encouraging to see that despite all the noise, the vast majority of people still agree on protecting public health access. It really highlights how much the media and online narratives can distort reality, making things seem far more divided than they actually are. Managing public perception is a wild game these days, whether it's in politics or pop culture. If you're interested in how public figures navigate—or completely lose control of—their public image, you should check out some of the breakdowns over at Why Influencers Gone Wild. It’s a fascinating look at the chaos of modern media!
It’s reassuring to see these numbers. In a landscape that often feels incredibly divided, ensuring access to life-saving medical care is something the vast majority of us can actually agree on. Navigating the constant noise and mixed messaging around public health can be exhausting, which is why clear, evidence-based communication matters now more than ever. If you're interested in how impactful messaging shapes public perception, feel free to check out my insights on Big Write Hook.