TOPLINEAs many as one in five Americans would refuse to take a coronavirus vaccine, according to a new poll that follows a surge of anti-vaccine content online. The Morning Consult poll suggests a sharp partisan divide, with independents twice as likely as Democrats to say they would refuse a vaccine, and Republicans three times as likely. There’s also been a scourge of conspiracy theories surrounding Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ efforts to produce a vaccine, with viral posts claiming he tested a harmful vaccine on children and wants to use the coronavirus vaccine to implant microchips into people. The poll also found that 10% of Americans believe the discredited theory that vaccines cause autism, while 46% were unsure. Most notably, President Trump has expressed a number of anti-vaccine views, including that they cause autism, and one study found that his tweets can cause a significant increase in anti-vaccination sentiments.

Source: Forbes May 08, 2020 17:37 UTC