Vaccine Benefits, Risks & Conversations: Public Perceptions of Vaccines Today
March 2026
New NORC data explore public perceptions of vaccine risks, benefits, and provider communication.
Vaccines have long been a cornerstone of public health, preventing serious illness and saving millions of lives. In the context of evolving federal vaccine policies, understanding how Americans think about vaccines matters more than ever. Public health officials, providers, and policymakers need a clear picture of attitudes, beliefs, and trust to guide communication and decision-making.
New data from NORC’s AmeriSpeak® Omnibus survey show that while a majority of U.S. adults are confident in vaccine benefits, many are concerned or uncertain about potential risks. These insights shed light on how adults view vaccine benefits and risks, how provider information is perceived, and how personal experiences shape vaccine views.
Majority See Benefits, But Uncertainty Persists
A majority of U.S. adults (58 percent) believe vaccines offer a great deal or quite a bit of health benefit, and another 18 percent see moderate benefit. Fifteen percent perceive little or no health benefit to vaccines, and 1 in 10 (9 percent) are unsure.
When it comes to risks, 54 percent of adults believe vaccines pose little to no health threat, while 16 percent perceive a moderate risk and 18 percent see a significant risk. Another 11 percent are uncertain. These findings indicate that although a majority recognize the benefits of vaccines, a notable portion of the population remains cautious or unsure about potential risks.
Vaccine risk and benefit perceptions tend to be inversely related. Among adults who think vaccines are very beneficial, 76 percent think they pose little to no risk while only 12 percent think they pose high risk. Conversely, among adults who think vaccines are not beneficial, 25 percent think they pose little to no risk while 48 percent think they pose high risk.
Perceived Clarity & Accuracy of Provider Communication Varies
Americans’ perceptions of how their health care providers communicate about vaccines reveal both strengths and gaps. Most adults say their providers communicate very or somewhat well about vaccine benefits (72 percent) and side effects (71 percent), versus 17 percent who think providers do a poor job at explaining benefits and 18 percent who think the same about side effects. However, for potential health risks from vaccines, only 56 percent feel providers communicate clearly, and a third think they communicate very or somewhat poorly.
There are similar patterns in the perceived accuracy of vaccine information from providers. About half of adults think the information from providers about vaccine benefits and side effects is very or extremely accurate. When it comes to the accuracy of information on possible risks, that number declines to just 38 percent.
Moreover, about one in 10 adults are unsure how accurately their providers communicate about vaccines. Specifically, 9 percent are unsure about information on vaccine benefits, 8 percent about side effects, and 11 percent about risks. These findings highlight a key opportunity to improve clarity and accuracy in conversations about vaccine risks.
Confidence Varies Across Communities
Americans of different backgrounds have a range of views on vaccines and the information they receive about them. Among Black adults, 26 percent think vaccines pose a great deal or quite a bit of risk, compared with 14 percent of White adults.
Adults with higher incomes or those with higher levels of educational attainment report greater perceived vaccine benefits than those with lower incomes or educational attainment levels, and those with lower incomes report greater perceived vaccine risks than those with higher incomes.
When it comes to provider communication, lower-income adults report lower perceived quality of provider communication about vaccine benefits and lower accuracy of vaccine side effect information from providers.
Personal Experience Shapes Perception
Fifteen percent of adults report that they or an immediate family member had a vaccine-related health problem. These same adults perceive higher risks, fewer benefits, and lower confidence in provider communication about vaccine side effects and health risks. Roughly half feel their provider did very or somewhat well at diagnosing (48 percent), treating (51 percent), or taking concerns seriously (56 percent), and 58 percent felt their providers treated them and their experience respectfully.
In contrast, about a third rate providers’ performance as poor at diagnosing (35 percent), treating (32 percent), taking their concerns seriously (30 percent), or treating them respectfully (27 percent).
Those with personal or family experience with a vaccine-related health problem are nearly three times as likely to believe vaccines pose substantial health risk (36 percent) versus those without such experiences (13 percent). They also perceive fewer benefits: 44 percent think vaccines offer substantial health benefit compared with 67 percent of adults without such experiences.
Another 16 percent of adults are unsure whether they or family members experienced a vaccine-related health problem. They show significant uncertainty about vaccine risks (25 percent) and benefits (25 percent), and 2 in 10 feel unsure about the quality and accuracy of provider communication.
“When individuals or those close to them experience vaccine-related health problems, those experiences matter and shape trust, which highlights a critical opportunity to improve how concerns are heard and addressed,” said Carly Parry, vice president in Health Sciences at NORC.
Implications: Confidence Gaps and Communication Opportunities
These new NORC data show that while a majority of U.S. adults recognize significant vaccine benefits, a notable share perceive moderate or high health risks, reflecting more nuanced and questioning attitudes. At the same time, the findings indicate a meaningful level of uncertainty, with some adults unsure about vaccine risks and benefits or whether they are receiving clear and accurate information from providers.
Adults with lower incomes or lower levels of educational attainment tend to have lower confidence in the benefits of vaccines, highlighting disparities that may be tied to broader issues of health literacy and access to health care.
Vaccine beliefs may also reflect generational experience, from older adults who lived through the introduction of many childhood vaccines to combat serious infection and illness to younger adults for whom the COVID-19 vaccine is most salient. Moving forward, it will be important to monitor vaccine views among younger generations, as their attitudes will shape vaccine decisions for themselves and their families over the coming decades.
These findings suggest that, across the board, Americans need clear, transparent, and context-rich communication that frames vaccine risks alongside benefits. Communication that is empathetic, compassionate, and responsive to questions and concerns will be key to closing these gaps. In a landscape of complex and sometimes conflicting information, such communication could make a meaningful difference in helping people make informed decisions about vaccines.
“In a time of evolving vaccine policies and competing information, understanding how Americans perceive vaccine risks and benefits is more important than ever,” said Amelia Burke-Garcia, director of NORC’s Center for Health Communication Science. “Our data show notable uncertainty, making clear, accurate, and responsive communication essential to help families make informed health decisions.”
Methodology
NORC conducted a poll of American adults between February 5 and February 8, 2026, during an AmeriSpeak monthly Omnibus survey. It included 1,092 interviews with a nationally representative sample (margin of error +/- 4.1 percentage points) from the AmeriSpeak panel, NORC’s probability-based panel that is designed to be representative of the U.S. household population. A comprehensive listing of all study questions and tabulations of top-level results for each question is available in the topline.
About the NORC Spotlight on Health
NORC at the University of Chicago’s Spotlight on Health is a series of quick-hitting national surveys and analyses on issues vital to health and well-being, conducted using AmeriSpeak’s probability-based panels.
NORC’s Vaccine Expertise
NORC at the University of Chicago has extensive experience studying public attitudes toward vaccines, evaluating immunization communication strategies, and conducting research to inform effective vaccine programs and policies. Our work includes evaluating federal immunization initiatives, monitoring national vaccine uptake, and exploring innovative approaches to improve communication and reduce hesitancy across diverse populations. NORC’s research supports policymakers, public health officials, and health care providers in designing evidence‑based strategies that promote informed decision‑making and access to vaccination.
About NORC at the University of Chicago
NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.
Contact: For more information, please email press@norc.org or call (877) 832-0392.
