A year after its introduction, vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for newborns and older adults are gaining wider acceptance among Americans, according to a recent health survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC).
Increasing Confidence in RSV Vaccines
The survey, conducted in November 2024, found that over half of U.S. adults (52%) now believe the RSV vaccine for pregnant individuals is effective, up from 42% in October 2023. Similarly, confidence in the RSV vaccine for adults aged 60 and older has risen to 61% from 54% during the same period.
This increase in perceived effectiveness comes despite the absence of a feared "tripledemic" of flu, COVID-19, and RSV, which strained healthcare systems during the 2022-23 winter. However, RSV activity is currently high in many U.S. regions, particularly among young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Vaccine Hesitancy Levels Off
After years of growing vaccine hesitancy, public attitudes toward vaccination appear to have stabilized or improved:
- MMR Vaccine: 86% of respondents say the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe, an increase from 81% in October 2023.
- Flu Vaccine: 83% view the flu vaccine as safe, unchanged from the previous year.
- COVID-19 Vaccine: 65% consider it safe, consistent with last year’s survey.
- 90% of respondents believe it is important for parents to vaccinate their children, with 72% saying it is "very" or "extremely" important.
Public Perception of Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines
The flu vaccine is viewed as more effective (75%) in reducing the risk of severe illness than the COVID-19 booster (55%). Notably:
- 51% of respondents have received or plan to receive the flu shot, compared to 38% for the COVID-19 booster.
- 68% are aware that both shots can be administered in the same visit to a healthcare provider.
Broader Vaccine Insights
Longstanding vaccines such as MMR, polio, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) continue to receive high marks for safety and effectiveness, while newer vaccines like COVID-19 and RSV are gaining public confidence.
Here’s a breakdown of public recommendations for select vaccines:
- MMR: 90% recommend for children aged 12-15 months or 4-6 years.
- Polio: 88% recommend for children aged 2-6 months.
- Tdap: 85% recommend for adolescents or adults.
- Shingles: 82% recommend for individuals aged 50 and older.
- HPV: 79% recommend for children aged 11-12 years.
Survey Details
The data comes from the 22nd wave of the APPC’s Annenberg Science and Public Health Knowledge survey, conducted among 1,771 U.S. adults between November 14-24, 2024, with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.
As public trust in vaccines stabilizes, it highlights the importance of accurate information and public health advocacy in addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving health outcomes.
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