Millions Experienced COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects

More than a third of Americans who were vaccinated against COVID-19 say they had side effects from the shot, and nearly half suspect the vaccines killed many patients,

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 68% of American Adults say they got a COVID-19 vaccination, and a majority (60%) of vaccinated adults report no side effects from the vaccine. However, 26% say they had minor side effects and 10% reported major side effects from the vaccine. Based on a U.S. adult population of 258 million, this would mean 63 million had at least some side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 17 million who experienced major side effects. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Among all American Adults (including those who didn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19), 46% believe it is likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths – down from 55% in September 2024 – including 25% who say it’s Very Likely. Forty-four percent (44%) now don’t think a significant number of deaths have been caused by vaccine side effects, including 20% who believe it’s Not At All Likely. Another 12% are not sure.

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The survey of 1,292 American Adults was conducted on November 10-12, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Those who didn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine are more likely to suspect it had deadly side effects. Seventy percent (70%) of those who weren’t vaccinated, compared to 36% of those who did get the shot, consider it at least somewhat likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths.

Among those who were vaccinated, 85% of those who reported major side effects think it’s at least somewhat likely that COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of deaths. By comparison, 69% of those who reported no side effects from the vaccine consider it unlikely that COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of deaths.

Slightly more men (72%) than women (66%) got vaccinated against COVID-19 during the pandemic, and more men (12%) than women (8%) report experiencing major side effects from the shot. However, more women (49%) than men (43%) consider it at least somewhat likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths.

Older voters are most likely to have been vaccinated against COVID-19 during the pandemic, and less likely to say they experienced side effects. Twenty-two percent (22%) of men under 40 say they experienced major side effects from the vaccine, compared to just seven percent (7%) of women 40 and older.

Forty-two percent (42%) of whites, 46% of blacks, 53% of Hispanics and 63% of other minorities believe it is at least somewhat likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have caused a significant number of unexplained deaths. Hispanics are most likely to have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic, and also most likely to report having experienced major side effects from the shot.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Americans with annual incomes between $30,000-$50,000 say it’s likelythat COVID-19 vaccines caused many deaths, compared to just 36% of those with annual incomes over $200,000 who say the same.

The cost of living – particularly higher grocery prices – continues to worry most Americans.

Economic confidence decreased to 98.6 in this month’s Rasmussen Reports Economic Index, more than seven points lower than October. The index has dropped more than 17 points since hitting a four-year high in July.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to the public as well as to Platinum Members.

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