Health Information and Trust

Many Adults Are Unaware of the Abortion Pill’s Safety and Prevalence as Misleading Claims Link the Medication to Wastewater Contamination — The Monitor

Aug 13, 2026

Feature

Findings from KFF’s July Health Tracking Poll show that much of the public is unsure of the abortion pill mifepristone’s safety. Plus, some groups opposed to abortion are citing a misleading paper in an effort to classify mifepristone as a water contaminant, despite criticism of the paper’s methodology.

KFF stacked bar chart from April 2025 showing the share of adults ages 50 and older by total and by partisanship who say they view mRNA vaccines as generally safe, generally unsafe, or don't know enough to say. It shows that most adults ages 50 and older are unsure whether mRNA vaccines are safe. Among adults 50 and older, Democrats are more likely than independents and Republicans to say mRNA vaccines are generally safe, but still half across partisanship say they are unsure.

As FDA Approves First-Ever mRNA Flu Vaccine For Older Adults, Past KFF Polling Showed Most In This Age Group Were Uncertain About the Technology’s Safety

Aug 7, 2026

Quick Insights

On August 5, 2026 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever mRNA flu vaccine for adults 50 and older, following a trial of roughly 40,000 people. KFF polling in April 2025 found that most adults ages 50 and older were uncertain whether mRNA vaccines are safe.

An image of text is an excerpt from Hagere Yilma's quick take which reads, "The skepticism surrounding the FDA's retraction of a positive test tying Taylor Farms lettuce to the cyclosporiasis outbreak comes at a time of broader public distrust in the agency. KFF's April 2026 Health Tracking Poll found that just over a third (36%) of adults are confident in the FDA to act independently without interference from outside interests, including similarly low shares across partisans."

The FDA’s Retraction of a Positive Test in the Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Raises Questions About Corrections and Trust

Jul 23, 2026

Quick Insights

The skepticism surrounding the FDA’s retraction of a positive test tying Taylor Farms lettuce to the cyclosporiasis outbreak comes at a time of broader public distrust in the agency. KFF’s April 2026 Health Tracking Poll found that just over a third (36%) of adults are confident in the FDA to act independently without interference from outside interests, including similarly low shares across partisans.

KFF Polling on Health Information and Trust

Jul 23, 2026

Feature

Drawing on KFF's poll findings, this interactive dashboard tracks the public’s trusted sources for health information, attitudes toward vaccines, and use of news, social media, and AI for health-related information. It provides visual representations of the key trends in the public’s trust in health information and tracks exposure to and belief in false and unproven health claims.

New KFF Poll Shows Public Divided When It Comes to Trusting Federal Health Agencies for Reliable Information — The Monitor

Jul 23, 2026

Feature

KFF’s latest Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds that following large declines in trust in federal health agencies from 2020 through early 2026, trust in the CDC as a source of health information held steady over the last 6 months, while trust in both President Trump and state government officials declined somewhat.

New KFF Poll Examines Patterns of Belief Across Common Vaccine Myths — The Monitor

Jul 9, 2026

Feature

KFF’s latest Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust shows that larger shares of the public express uncertainty over common vaccine myths than definitive belief. The latest analysis shows which adults are consistent myth believers, consistent myth deniers, and those who fall in the “mixed middle.”

Americans May Be Smarter About Vaccines Than You Think

Jul 7, 2026

From Drew Altman

In a new column that analyzes recent KFF polling, Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman concludes that only a sliver of the public hold definitive anti-science, anti-vaccine views, and are greatly outnumbered by the people who believe established science, with even more Americans stuck in a “muddled middle.” He writes, “when you see reports of social media engagement spiking about a health myth, don’t overreact. It’s more likely than not that it's a relatively…

Poll: People Without a Trusted Health Care Provider Are More Likely to Endorse Vaccine Myths, As Are Those Who Often Use Social Media or AI for Health Information

Jun 30, 2026

News Release

People who don’t have a trusted health care provider are more likely than people with one to believe or lean toward believing several common myths about vaccines, a new KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust reveals. Similarly, people who use social media or artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots at least weekly for health information are more likely than those who don’t to endorse these false vaccine claims. One example: Among adults who say they…

KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Update on Common Vaccine Myths

Jun 30, 2026

Poll Finding

This poll looks at exposure to and belief in several vaccine myths and finds that people without a trusted health care provider, and those who regularly use social media or AI for health information, are generally more likely than others to belief the false claims. It also analyzes belief across vaccine myths, showing the share of the public that are consistent myth believers, consistent myth deniers, and those who land in the "mixed middle."

KFF Poll Shows Three in Ten Adults Turn to Social Media or AI for Health Information, with Lower-Income Adults More Likely to Cite Cost and Access Barriers as a Reason — The Monitor

Jun 25, 2026

Feature

The latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds roughly three in ten adults report turning to social media (31%) or AI chatbots (29%) at least monthly for health information and advice. The top reasons people report turning to social media for health advice are wanting to hear from those with similar experiences or a desire for quick information.

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Many Adults Are Unaware of the Abortion Pill’s Safety and Prevalence as Misleading Claims Link the Medication to Wastewater Contamination

New KFF Poll Examines Patterns of Belief Across Common Vaccine Myths

KFF Poll Shows Three in Ten Adults Turn to Social Media or AI for Health Information, with Lower-Income Adults More Likely to Cite Cost and Access Barriers as a Reason

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Polling

As FDA Approves First-Ever mRNA Flu Vaccine For Older Adults, Past KFF Polling Showed Most In This Age Group Were Uncertain About the Technology’s Safety

From Drew Altman: Americans May Be Smarter About Vaccines Than You Think

Dashboard: Polling on Health Information and Trust

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