Polarized elections do not erode support for the basic principles of democracy

Election results affect voters' satisfaction with democracy, but not their support for anti-democratic measures

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

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The health of liberal democracies has been the focus of interest for political science for some time, against a global backdrop marked by the rise of political polarization and tense incidents like those that took place in the United States in 2021 and Brazil in 2023. A recent study involving the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has examined whether winning or losing a polarized election has an impact on citizens' satisfaction with democracy and their support for its basic rules. The results of the research, which have been published in open access in the journal Comparative Political Studies, suggest that citizens' perceptions of the democratic system are surprisingly resilient.

The study is based on a comparative analysis of 35 elections and those involved included Sergi Ferrer, a researcher in the eGovernance: electronic administration and democracy (GADE) group at the UOC and Enrique Hernández, Damjan Tomic and Enrique Prada, researchers from the Department of Political Science and Public Law at the UAB. The project examined whether election results and the degree of partisan animosity are factors that determine adherence to basic democratic principles, such as institutional restraint (the majority's willingness not to abuse its power and respect minorities) and losers' consent (acceptance of the results and the majority's right to govern according to the rules).

One of the initial hypotheses was that affective polarization, i.e., distrust or animosity towards people voting for other parties, who in extreme cases may be seen as enemies – could change these attitudes and lead citizens to question democratic norms that run counter to their immediate interests. However, the results show that while people voting for winning parties are more satisfied with democracy than those who have voted for losing parties, the differences are much smaller when their support for fundamental democratic norms is examined.

"Being more satisfied when you have won than when you have lost is normal. It happens in all areas of life. What can be problematic is when winning or losing makes you more or less democratic, or leads you to support undemocratic acts in cases with high levels of polarization. We thought that this might be the case, but the results show the opposite, even though we studied it in different environments and using different methods," said Sergi Ferrer, a member of the Faculty of Law and Political Science.

 

Trust in the rules of the game

The study shows that even in highly polarized environments, winning voters do not usually support leaders who 'take revenge', and losers continue to accept the majority's right to govern, provided that minority rights are protected. There are differences between winners and losers in these areas, but they are statistically very small when compared to the decline in satisfaction with democracy. This suggests that there is a bedrock of public support that contributes to maintaining democratic institutions, even in politically tense environments.

These results therefore provide fresh evidence on the role of citizens in the quality of democracy. Most of the previous academic literature had focused on "satisfaction with democracy", an indicator that usually reflects whether the individual is happy with how the system works, or with the current government. This study confirms that winning voters are consistently more satisfied than losers, and that this difference increases as affective polarization increases. "On the other hand, if there is a difference between winners and losers in terms of support for basic democratic norms, it remains constant regardless of the level of polarization," said the researcher, who is affiliated to the UOC-DIGIT centre.

The research was carried out by analysing data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), which covers 35 elections held in 30 countries between 2016 and 2021. Its objectives did not include ascertaining why polarization has a particularly marked effect on satisfaction with democracy but not on support for democratic norms, but Ferrer gave his own perspective: "The two aspects are different in academic terms. To make a comparison with football, being angry at losing to your biggest rival is one thing, and wanting to change the basic rules of football after you lose is something else entirely."

 

A political environment that encourages further research

In view of the democratic backsliding that is evident in some Western democracies, which has taken place at the same time as increased polarization, the research team highlighted the need to continue studying these dynamics in depth. "If we want a democracy to work properly, the winners must not use their status as winners to give themselves more powers, and the losers must accept that they have lost and that the way to achieve power is simply to win elections in the future," said the UOC researcher.

The research team aims to continue broadening its knowledge in order to contribute more information to the recent debate on the extent to which it is necessary to restrict or permit the existence of parties with strong autocratic tendencies. "The situations or circumstances in which polarization does have a negative effect on democracy are not yet entirely clear. We are investigating whether it is necessary to identify which parties polarize and how their opponents react, a process known as asymmetric polarization," said Ferrer. The research team has also begun new lines of work to find out whether polarization affects other principles, such as banning political parties or judicial review processes.

This study is aligned with the UOC's Culture for a critical society research mission, and supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially numbers 4, Quality Education, and 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

 

Transformative, impactful research

At the UOC, we see research as a strategic tool to advance towards a future society that is more critical, responsible and nonconformist. With this vision, we conduct applied research that's interdisciplinary and linked to the most important social, technological and educational challenges.  

The UOC’s over 500 researchers and more than 50 research groups are working in five research centres focusing on five missions: lifelong learning; ethical and human-centred technology; digital transition and sustainability; culture for a critical society, and digital health and planetary well-being.

The university's Hubbik platform fosters knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship in the UOC community.

More information: www.uoc.edu/en/research

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Journal

Comparative Political Studies

DOI

10.1177/00104140251414013 

 

Binghamton University achieves gold star rating for sustainability achievements

First SUNY school to earn gold rating under Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education guidelines

Binghamton University

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Undergraduate Raya Sitman and a friend explores the Nature Preserve after class, Sept 30, 2025.

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Binghamton University has earned a gold star rating through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Binghamton is the first SUNY school to achieve a gold rating under the newest STARS guideline framework.

STARS is a comprehensive sustainability rating system for colleges and universities that addresses the environmental and economic sides of sustainability. More than 1,200 institutions in 52 countries participate in the STARS program. An institution's score is determined by a points system in four main categories: academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration.

“The gold rating from AASHE reflects Binghamton University’s broad and deep commitment to sustainability,” said Binghamton University President Anne D’Alleva. “Our efforts span the research we conduct in energy storage, our stewardship of the natural areas on our campus, and our engagement with neighbors and community partners on issues such as climate change. I offer my congratulations and gratitude to the many individuals across the University who make sustainability a daily focus of their work and, in doing so, strengthen our campus and community.”

Binghamton was an especially high performer in research, public engagement, and coordination and planning. Just over 90% of academic departments are engaged in sustainability-related research, and 372 Binghamton faculty members’ research ties into at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.

The University’s smart energy research was also noted as a point of distinction in the STARS submission. Specifically, Binghamton’s work to become a hub for battery technology innovation and additional projects to support the battery supply chain, workforce development, and environmental justice were noted.

Efforts to protect the local ecosystem were also highlighted for their role in enhancing biodiversity. A point of pride for the University, the over 300-acre Nature Preserve on the main campus features low/no-mowing zones and implements a newly adopted Integrated Pest Management Plan. The Nature Preserve is also the largest and most-used laboratory on campus. 

“Achieving Gold under the STARS 3.0 framework reflects Binghamton University’s strong commitment to sustainability,” said Martin Larocca, deputy chief sustainability officer at the Binghamton University Office of Sustainability. “Over the past three years, more than 30 campus programs have advanced sustainability initiatives, expanding our efforts and impact across campus. I am grateful to the Campus Sustainability Committee for providing leadership on key projects and assisting with the collection and reporting of sustainability data from across the University. Everyone’s efforts will be crucial as we continue to strive toward a Platinum rating.”

The following University departments and programs were also cited as points of distinction:

Campus-focused

• The Office of Sustainability
• The Okanagan Charter

Community-focused

• Binghamton 2 Degrees

National and international-focused

• Climate Change Quilt

Additionally, the Office of Sustainability was awarded $311,000 through the 2025 Community Reforestation (CoRe) grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The project focuses on restoring the ecological health of about 33 acres of land near the main campus. This resulted in planting more than 1,000 trees, removing dead trees, building about 30 acres of deer enclosure training, and hands-on educational opportunities for the local community.

For more information about the STARS program, visit the STARS website.

 

Could artisan cheeses that please, ease diseases?

University of Reading

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Blessed are the tiny cheesemakers: scientists have mapped out the bacteria responsible for giving three British cheeses their distinct flavour, which may also be beneficial to human health. 

Scientists in the Food Microbial Sciences Unit at the University of Reading, identified the microbial and biochemical profiles of three artisan cheeses made locally in Oxfordshire across their maturation process, and found that the bacteria responsible for a cheese’s character could also benefit the people who eat it. 

The study, published in ACS Food Science & Technology, examined three cheese varieties produced by Nettlebed Creamery in Oxfordshire: a soft white-rind cheese aged for just over a week; a washed-rind semi-soft cheese that takes several weeks to reach maturity; and a semi-hard cheese aged in hay for around nine months. 

Lead author Sabrina Longley, a PhD researcher in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, said: “"Good cheese is delicious, and the artisan varieties we studied are full of microbial life that could have benefits to your gut health. 

"The ageing process creates more complex aromas and textures through the work of an army of helpful bacteria. The matrix of fats and proteins in the cheese may also help protect the bacteria as they travel along the digestive tract, making cheese an excellent vehicle for delivery of probiotics to the gut." 

Samples were taken at different stages of cheese maturing process and analysed for their bacterial populations and chemical composition. 

All three cheeses contained bacteria with recognised probiotic potential, which can add to populations of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Streptococcus thermophilus, also used as a yogurt starter, remained dominant in the semi-soft and harder cheeses right through to maturity, while Lactococcus lactis was present throughout all three cheeses. The washed-rind cheese and hay-aged cheese also contained Propionibacterium freudenreichii, which produces propionic acid, a compound associated with anti-inflammatory properties, reduction of cholesterol synthesis, and appetite regulation. 

Bioactive potential 

For cheese lovers who eat the rind, there may be particular reason to do so. The white mould Penicillium candidum, used to form the distinctive rind in the soft cheese studied, produces chitin, a dietary fibre that may act as a prebiotic. This is food for other beneficial gut bacteria, which can stimulate beneficial changes in the gut microbiota. 

The process of ageing the harder cheese in hay, meanwhile, appeared to increase the diversity of bacterial species present in the cheese as it matured, with nearly four times as many species found in the mature cheese, compared to the same cheese earlier in the process. 

The researchers found that lactose, the sugar found in cow’s milk that some people struggle to digest, was almost entirely absent from all three cheeses by the time they reached maturity, having been broken down by lactic acid bacteria during the fermentation process. 

Sabrina Longley is a cheesemaker at the independent Nettlebed Creamery in Oxfordshire, which part-funded the research. She is being supported to conduct her PhD research part-time with a University of Reading regional bursary, a scheme helping people from the local area to undertake research studies. 

The authors note that further research (dietary intervention trials) is needed to confirm how bacterial populations in the gut microbiota behave and change after being consumed, and their overall effects on the human system.   

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Journal

ACS Food Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acsfoodscitech.5c01243 

Article Title

Microbial and Biochemical Characterization of Three Artisan British Cheeses throughout the Maturation Process

 

Buying your way to better health comes at the expense of others

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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Pål Erling Martinussen.

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Credit: Photo: NTNU

People with private health insurance can jump the public healthcare queue by using private health services instead. Is there really anything wrong with that?

There are two main theories:

1. If the wealthiest people use private health services more, the public healthcare system will have more capacity for the rest of us.
2. Private health services divert resources away from the public healthcare system, which consequently becomes worse.

But which one of these theories is most correct? Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have been investigating this, and the results are now in.

Public health is deteriorating

“Our findings suggest that an increase in private health insurance uptake leads to poorer health in the population over time,” said Professor Pål Erling Martinussen from the Department of Sociology and Political Science at NTNU.

Private health insurance has become much more common in several European countries over the past few decades. In collaboration with PhD research fellow Oda Nordheim, Martinussen has studied developments in 20 countries during the period 2002–2022. They have used data from over 300,000 people.

Worse for people with the lowest levels of education

“People with a low level of education are more likely to report poor health if they live in a country where uptake of private health insurance has increased,” explained Nordheim.

A lower level of education is often associated with lower income, at least on average. Of course, some people have private health insurance through their jobs. However, the figures show that it is often people with the least financial resilience who are most affected.

Paying for private health services may be beneficial for those who can afford to do so, but it comes at the expense of others.

“The negative health effects on the population as a whole outweigh the benefits that private health insurance provides to individuals,” concluded Martinussen.

The researchers are therefore of the opinion that European policymakers must implement strategies to counteract the potential negative side effects of private health insurance.

Reference:
Pål E. Martinussen, Oda Nordheim, Somebody get me a doctor: Voluntary health insurance, social background, and subjective health in Europe, 2002–2022, Health Policy, 2026, 105596, ISSN 0168-8510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105596

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Journal

Health Policy

DOI

10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105596 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Somebody get me a doctor: Voluntary health insurance, social background and subjective health in Europe, 2002–2022

 

WSU study finds high prevalence of hantavirus in some areas of the Pacific Northwest

Washington State University

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PULLMAN, Wash. — The Sin Nombre virus – a hantavirus that can cause a deadly respiratory disease in humans – may be more widespread among rodent populations in parts of the Pacific Northwest than previously recognized.

A recent study conducted in the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho found that nearly 30% of rodents showed evidence of past infection with the virus. About 10% were actively infected, meaning they were carrying and could potentially shed the virus. The study, which was led by researchers in Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.

“We were surprised both by how common the virus was locally and by how little data existed for the Northwest,” said Stephanie Seifert, the study’s corresponding author and principal investigator of the Molecular Ecology of Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens lab in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Paul G. Allen School for Global Health. “We’re really just beginning to understand how widespread and complex this virus is in rodent populations here.”

Sin Nombre virus (SNV), which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, was first identified during a 1993 outbreak in the Four Corners region of the United States. From 1993–2022, 864 cases were reported in the U.S., with a 36% case-fatality rate. A total of 109 of those cases occurred in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Hantavirus has been in the headlines because of an outbreak of Andes virus on a cruise ship. While rare, Andes virus, which is found in South America and is a different species than SNV, is the only hantavirus known to spread between people.

SNV is primarily maintained in deer mice, which are common around farms, homes and outbuildings. Rodents can spread the virus among themselves through saliva and direct contact, but human infections typically occur when people inhale airborne particles from contaminated rodent droppings, urine or nesting materials.

Activities that disturb rodent droppings or nests can increase the risk of exposure by sending virus particles into the air. Sweeping or using equipment like leaf blowers in enclosed areas can be particularly hazardous. Instead, health officials recommend ventilating spaces and using wet-cleaning methods to reduce the risk of inhalation.

Field work for the study was done in the summer of 2023 when researchers trapped rodents across farms and natural areas in Whitman County, Washington, and Latah and Benewah counties in Idaho. In total, samples were collected from 189 animals, including deer mice, voles and chipmunks.

Once in the lab, the researchers identified active infections and antibodies, indicating a past infection, in both deer mice and voles, suggesting the virus may move between species.

The researchers also used the samples to produce the first full genome sequences of SNV strains from the Northwest. The sequences revealed high levels of genetic diversity and evidence of viral reassortment, or mixing of genetic material. The information can help public health officials and scientists track how the virus evolves in the future, in addition to assisting in identifying sources of infection and improving surveillance and testing.

Despite the relatively high prevalence of the virus in rodents, reports of human infections remain rare, which could indicate some infections are going unnoticed. The researchers hope to expand their work in the future if additional funding becomes available, including studying how often people are exposed and how human behavior influences risk.

“"People may be exposed more often than we realize, but severe cases are more likely to be tested for hantavirus,” said Pilar Fernandez, a co-author on the study and a disease ecologist in the Allen School whose research focuses on the eco-epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. “Understanding that gap – how exposure translates into disease – is the next big step.”

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Journal

Emerging Infectious Diseases

DOI

10.3201/eid3205.251476 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Genomic Analysis of Sin Nombre Virus Sequences, Northwestern United States, 2023

Article Publication Date

21-May-2026

 

Survey highlights persistent uncertainty on STI vaccines

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

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Source: The Annenberg Public Policy Center's Annenberg Science and Public Health survey, April 2026. 

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Credit: Annenberg Public Policy Center

While data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the total number of U.S. cases of three sexually transmitted infections (STIs) declined from 2022-24, infection rates remain 13% higher than a decade ago. CDC provisional data show more than 2.2 million U.S. cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in 2024.

Now, a nationally representative survey of empaneled adults from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania finds that while most Americans understand how STIs spread, there are significant gaps in public knowledge about which infections can be prevented through vaccination.

In the Annenberg survey, conducted April 14-28, 2026, among 1,639 U.S. adults, nearly half of the respondents (47%) say that they or someone they know has ever been diagnosed with an STI. Most of those (72%) who know someone with an STI report knowing two or more people with it. (Download the topline.)

CDC data show how common these infections are. The CDC says the most common STI is human papillomavirus or HPV, and about 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. The CDC also has estimated that on any given day in 2018, about 20% of the U.S. population – 1 in 5 people – had an STI.

Gaps in identifying what is sexually transmitted

A sexually transmitted infection, the CDC says, is “a virus, bacteria, fungus or parasite people can get through sexual contact.” There are dozens of STIs. Some are spread mainly by sexual contact (such as genital herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and HPV). Some are sometimes spread by sexual transmission (HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), mpox). And some can be spread sexually but are more often spread in other ways (Zika).

The survey finds that a large majority of respondents know that infections which spread mainly by sexual contact are sexually transmitted. In most cases, there has been no significant change in public knowledge from 2024 to 2026. The percentages who know that these diseases are sexually transmitted are:

• 95% Genital herpes
• 94% Gonorrhea
• 91% Syphilis
• 89% Chlamydia
• 75% HPV, a six-point increase from 2024

Although sexual transmission is just one of several ways that HIV can be spread, Americans are much more aware that it can be sexually transmitted than they are about mpox or Zika:

• 92% know that HIV can be sexually transmitted.
• 35% know that mpox, also called monkeypox, can be sexually transmitted.
• 13% know that Zika or ZIKV, which is primarily mosquito-borne, can also be sexually transmitted.

“Public understanding improves when accurate health information reaches people clearly and consistently,” said Ken Winneg, APPC’s managing director of survey research. “But these findings show continuing gaps in awareness about diseases which can be sexually transmitted such as HPV, mpox, and Zika.”

Broad awareness of STI transmission but misconceptions persist

The survey shows strong awareness of common ways that STIs are transmitted:

• 97% identify vaginal sex as a transmission route
• 94% anal sex
• 91% genital-to-genital contact
• 89% oral sex

In addition, 49% selected kissing, which is not a common route for STI transmission but may be a form of transmission of syphilis when a sore is present and may be a risk factor for oral gonorrhea. And 1 in 5 (20%) chose sitting on a toilet after someone with an STI sat on it. CDC guidance for a number of STIs (HIV, syphilis, and genital herpes, for instance) says that sitting on a toilet seat is not a form of transmission.

Public understanding is uneven around less common transmission pathways for HIV, in particular. While 92% recognize HIV as sexually transmitted, only 33% know it also can be transmitted by breastfeeding. According to the CDC, HIV can be transmitted during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Limited understanding of which diseases are vaccine-preventable

The public’s awareness of which diseases can be prevented with vaccines varies widely. For most of the diseases in our survey, a substantial part of the population says it does not know whether there is a vaccine for them. For the two diseases which may be prevented by vaccines:

• HPV: HPV vaccine awareness is highest, with 68% correctly identifying that a vaccine exists. The CDC reports that HPV vaccination can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers.
• Mpox: Only 42% know a vaccine exists for mpox, despite CDC recommendations that at-risk groups be vaccinated. The vaccine can help prevent an mpox infection if given in advance and can mitigate it if given shortly after exposure.

For some other infections, most Americans are unaware that no vaccine exists:

• Genital herpes: 54% are unsure or incorrectly think a vaccine exists
• Gonorrhea: 58% unsure or incorrect
• Syphilis: 61% unsure or incorrect
• Chlamydia: 60% unsure or incorrect
• HIV: 52% are unsure or incorrect
• Zika: 81% unsure or incorrect

Encouraging areas of public knowledge – and some misconceptions

The survey highlights the public’s strong knowledge of some basic facts about STIs:

• 93% know STIs can spread even without symptoms;
• 87% reject the myth that only people with many sexual partners get STIs;
• 83% know that HIV medications can control disease progression, a decline from 2024, when 87% knew this.
  • But only 45% know that most people in the United States who have HIV do not develop AIDS.
• 80% know STIs can be passed from a pregnant person to their baby
• 70% know that HPV can lead to cancer in women
  • But 14% also incorrectly think the vaccine leads teens to engage in risky sexual behavior, an increase from 10% who said they believed this in 2024. It does not.

“HPV vaccination is important for preventing cancers caused by HPV,” said Laura A. Gibson, an APPC research analyst. “The increase in awareness that HPV is sexually transmitted is a positive development, but it is concerning to see a similar increase in the incorrect belief that the HPV vaccine leads teens to engage in risky sexual behavior.”

Syphilis: Rising rates underscore importance of public understanding

The survey findings come as syphilis continues to pose a major public health challenge in the United States. According to the CDC’s latest provisional surveillance data, there were more than 190,000 reported syphilis cases in 2024, and the national syphilis rate reached 55.9 cases per 100,000 people. While overall syphilis cases declined about 9% from 2023 levels, congenital syphilis — when the infection is passed from a pregnant person to a baby — increased for the 12th consecutive year, with nearly 4,000 reported cases in 2024. The CDC reports congenital syphilis rates are now nearly 700% higher than a decade ago.

The current survey suggests that many Americans remain uncertain about how syphilis can be prevented and treated. Over 9 out of 10 people (91%) correctly identify syphilis as sexually transmitted but more than half of U.S. adults (61%) are either unsure whether there is a vaccine against syphilis (44%) or say a vaccine exists (17%). It does not, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“Too many Americans remain uncertain about basic facts surrounding syphilis, including how it is prevented and treated,” said Patrick E. Jamieson, director of the policy center’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute, which oversees the survey. “Those knowledge gaps can have serious public health consequences.”

About 4 in 5 respondents know how to protect against getting syphilis: 80% correctly identify abstinence and 78% correctly identify condom use as ways to protect against syphilis.

The CDC recommends regular STI screening, condom use, prompt antibiotic treatment, and prenatal testing during pregnancy to reduce transmission and prevent congenital syphilis.

Additional context on STI curability

Three bacterial infections – gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis – can be cured with appropriate antibiotics, according to the CDC, but you can be re-infected. Three viral STIs – HPV, genital herpes, and HIV – cannot be cured. Although HPV cannot be cured, in 9 out of 10 cases, “HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems,” the CDC says. When HPV does not resolve, it can cause cervical and other cancers. Genital herpes is a lifelong infection and has no cure, according to the CDC, but there are medicines that can “prevent or shorten outbreaks.” HIV has no cure but can be managed with medication.

Most patients with mpox who are not severely immunocompromised “will recover with supportive care and pain control only,” the CDC says. Zika has no specific cure but typically resolves on its own, although in rare cases it can cause severe disease affecting the brain.

APPC’s ASAPH survey

The findings come from Wave 29 of the Annenberg Science and Public Health survey (ASAPH), conducted April 14-28, 2026, among 1,639 U.S. adults. It was conducted for the policy center by SSRS, an independent research company. The nationally representative probability-based panel, which was first empaneled in April 2021, has a margin of sampling error of ± 3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All figures are rounded to the nearest whole number and may not add to 100%. Combined subcategories may not add to totals in the topline and text due to rounding.

Download the topline and methodology report.

The policy center has been tracking the American public’s knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding vaccination, Covid-19, flu, RSV, and other consequential health issues through the Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) survey and separate national samples since April 2021. The ASAPH survey is conducted under the auspices of APPC’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute (AHRCI) by a team that includes Ken Winneg, managing director of survey research; research analysts Laura A. Gibson and Shawn Patterson Jr.; and Patrick E. Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute.

See other recent Annenberg health survey news releases:

• How the public views scientists: Scientists esteemed by public, with vaccine scientists seen as similar to scientists in general (April 27, 2026)
• Alcohol and cancer: Awareness of alcohol-cancer link holds steady despite omission in new U.S. dietary guidelines (March 19, 2026)
• Trust in health leaders: Stark divide: Americans more confident in career scientists at U.S. health agencies than leaders (March 5, 2026)
• RSV: Most would recommend RSV immunizations for infants, older adults, and during pregnancy (Jan. 21, 2026)
• Shared decision-making: CDC urges “shared decision-making” on some childhood vaccines; many unclear about what that means (Jan. 5, 2026)

The Annenberg Public Policy Center was established in 1993 to educate the public and policy makers about communication’s role in advancing public understanding of political, science, and health issues at the local, state, and federal levels.

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Method of Research

Survey

 

Source: The Annenberg Public Policy Center's Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) survey, April 2026.

Credit

Annenberg Public Policy Center