WASHINGTON — A recent poll from KFF reveals that many Americans are not satisfied with the job performance of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the government’s vaccine policy. Released on Thursday, this nonpartisan survey showed a considerable disapproval rate.
Interestingly, a large portion of respondents (77%) were aware of controversial claims made by Presidents Donald Trump, Kennedy, and others regarding acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, suggesting it might contribute to autism in children when taken during pregnancy. However, these allegations have not been substantiated by the medical community and opinion on the matter varies widely.
In terms of belief, only 4% of those surveyed said they thought it was “definitely true” that taking Tylenol during pregnancy could increase autism risk, while 35% believed the opposite, deeming it “definitely false.” Meanwhile, 30% are convinced it’s “probably true,” and another 30% consider it “probably false.” Overall, 65% of respondents leaned towards either probably or definitely false regarding the link between Tylenol and autism. Experts suggest that autism is likely caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors.
When broken down by political affiliation, a significant portion of respondents—86% of Democrats, 67% of independents, and 43% of Republicans—viewed the claim as probably or definitely false.
The survey also indicated that 59% of participants disapproved of how President Kennedy is managing his responsibilities in public health, highlighting stark differences in opinion among party lines. Disapproval was reported at 86% for Democrats, 64% for independents, and 26% for Republicans. Moreover, 62% disapproved of the U.S. vaccine policy.
Respondents exhibited a consistent trend when separated by political affiliation regarding vaccine policy, with 88% of Democrats, 67% of independents, and 31% of Republicans expressing disapproval.
Additionally, trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown a decline, going from 63% confidence in vaccines two years ago to just 50% now. Democrats’ trust has dropped significantly, from 88% to 64%, while independents’ faith has decreased from 61% to 47%. Republicans seem to maintain steady confidence, with a slight drop from 40% to 39%.
Despite these troubling statistics, trust remains higher for individual physicians and respected organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. In fact, 83% of respondents expressed trust in their own doctors, 69% in the American Academy of Pediatrics, and 64% in the AMA.
This poll, encompassing 1,334 adults, was conducted between September 23 and September 29. It features a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for the overall sample, and plus or minus 6 percentage points for results categorized by political ideology.
