According to Rasmussen Reports, 28% of likely voters claim to personally know someone who has died from the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, 49% believe that the vaccine has caused unexplained deaths, leading to the trending hashtag “#DiedSuddenly” based on a recently released documentary.
The documentary has faced criticism for promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, but it has still been viewed by approximately 15 million people.
When asked if there are legitimate safety concerns surrounding the vaccine or if these concerns are being raised by conspiracy theorists, 48% said they believe there are legitimate worries, while 37% believe that those with concerns are spreading conspiracy theories.
Democrats are more likely to believe that the vaccine has caused deaths, with 33% holding this belief compared to 26% of Republicans.
Despite these concerns, 71% of respondents said that they have received the vaccine, with 85% of Democrats, 63% of Republicans, and 64% of independents reporting having been vaccinated.
The White House, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and others have emphasized the safety of the vaccine as the country faces the possibility of a third season of the virus.
