47% Suspect COVID-19 Vaccine Was Deadly for Some

Nearly half of Americans remain suspicious that COVID-19 vaccines were responsible for some deaths during the pandemic, and many say they suffered side effects themselves. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 47% of American Adults believe it is likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of unexplained deaths, including 25% who think it’s Very Likely. Thirty-nine percent (39%) don’t consider it likely a significant number of deaths were caused by vaccine side effects, including 19% who believe it’s Not At All Likely. Another 14% are not sure. These findings have not changed much since our December 2022 survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Sixty-two percent (62%) say they received a COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. Among those, 25% say they experienced minor side effects from the vaccine, while eight percent (8%) had major side effects. However, nearly two-thirds (64%) who got COVID-19 vaccines report they had no side effects.

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The survey of 1,295 American Adults was conducted on June 29-July 1, 2026 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 did get a COVID-19 vaccine are much less likely to suspect the vaccine caused fatalities. Among the vaccinated, just 35% consider it at least somewhat likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of unexplained deaths, compared to 74% of those who didn’t get vaccinated.

More Democrats (78%) than Republicans (53%) or those not affiliated with either major party (55%) say they received a COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. Among the vaccinated, Republicans are more likely to say they experienced side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Republicans, 32% of Democrats and 46% of the unaffiliated think it’s at least somewhat likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of unexplained deaths.

The “gender gap” is not very large on these questions, although more women (26%) than men (21%) believe it’s Very Likely that a significant number of deaths were caused by COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

Ninety-one percent (91%) of those 65 and older got vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 49% of adults under 40. Women under 40 are most likely to suspect the COVID-19 vaccine caused unexplained deaths.

Forty-five percent (45%) of whites, 41% of blacks, 58% of Hispanics and 55% of other minorities say it’s at least somewhat likely that side effects of COVID-19 vaccines caused a significant number of unexplained deaths.

College-educated adults and those with annual incomes over $100,000 are less likely to suspect that unexplained deaths were caused by COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

Recent revelations about the origins of the COVID-19 virus have heightened suspicions many Americans have about both the pandemic and the vaccines used to treat it. 

Americans overwhelmingly side with professional athletes who refuse to join LGBTQ Pride Month celebrations. 

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

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