A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds a broad, bipartisan majority of Americans say childhood vaccines are safe and support school vaccine mandates, putting them at odds with key parts of Trump’s current health agenda.
A whopping 84% of U.S. adults say vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella are safe for children, while 74% say the government should require children to be vaccinated to attend school; only 23% say unvaccinated kids should still be allowed in school.
- Support is bipartisan: about 92% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans call these vaccines safe.
- Roughly two‑thirds of Republicans back school vaccine mandates, along with about nine in ten Democrats.
Contrast with Trump/RFK Jr. health agenda
The poll lands as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., backed by Trump, pushes to roll back some federal childhood vaccine recommendations and expand state exemptions.
Only a minority support cutting the number of recommended childhood vaccines: about 29% favor fewer shots, while most either oppose reductions or prioritize other health interventions. By contrast, about two‑thirds support stronger federal action to discourage unhealthy diets, and roughly 77% say big food companies are harming Americans’ health.
Political implications
The numbers highlight a gap between Trump/Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” skepticism of mandates and the public’s continued trust in routine childhood vaccines and school requirements.
