The report is the first global survey of attitudes toward science and health. Representatives of Wellcome Global Monitor interviewed over 140,000 people 15 years and older in 140 countries to create the report. They found 79 percent of people “somewhat” or “strongly” agree vaccines are safe, while 7 percent “somewhat” or “strongly” disagreed.
People in high-income regions were less likely to trust vaccines. Seventy-two percent of people in North America, 59 percent in Western Europe and just 50 percent in Eastern Europe said vaccines were safe, in contrast with 95 percent in South Asia and 92 percent in East Africa.
The survey also shows people with more education in high-income countries were less likely to support vaccines, but the opposite was true in low-income countries.
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Joint Commission’s new requirements for suicide prevention take effect July 1
6 ways to combat anxiety as a new nurse
California aims to crack down on medical vaccine exemptions
