Coming in just a few mins: COVID vaccine distrust growing among Americans, survey finds: Should be a personal choice [Video]

A growing number of Americans are skeptical of vaccines for COVID and other infectious diseases, according to the most recent national health survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

More than a quarter of respondents (28%) said they believe the COVID vaccines have contributed to thousands of deaths, according to a press release. This is an increase from 22% in June 2021.

Meanwhile, 22% of respondents said they are under the assumption that it is safer to contract COVID than it would be to get vaccinated — an increase from 10% in April 2021.

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Also, 15% of Americans said they believe the vaccine “changes people’s DNA,” up from 8% since the last survey.

The survey gathered input from nearly 1,500 U.S. adults.

“Belief in these three misconceptions is associated with increased reluctance to vaccinate,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and …