A new survey of US adults suggests that, despite the spread of conspiracy theories about vaccines in recent years, most Americans trust the work of vaccine scientists.

The survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) found that, among 1,650 adults polled in February, nearly seven in 10 (69%) say they trust vaccine scientists a "moderate amount" or more to act in their best interest. The amount of trust in vaccine scientists was statistically the same as it was for medical scientists (72%) and scientists in general (70%).

The survey's margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

The findings come amid growing challenges to vaccine science that flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been elevated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promoted the debunked idea that vaccines are linked to autism and once called the COVID-19 shot "the deadliest vaccine ever made." 

“It is reassuring to see that the public trusts vaccine scientists to act in their best interests just as much as scientists in general, despite the unfounded attacks on vaccine research,” APPC research analyst Laura Gibson said in an Annenberg news release.

By comparison, the survey found similar rates of trust in police officers (70%) and the military (70%). But trust in vaccine scientists, and scientists in general, was much higher than for religious leaders (47%), journalists (49%), elected officials (36%), and business leaders (30%).

Most believe vaccine science has been beneficial

When asked whether the findings produced by vaccine scientists over the past decade have benefited the country as a whole, 61% said they "strongly" or "somewhat" agree, while 61% said they strongly or somewhat agree the findings have benefited "people like me." The responses were similar for scientists in general (61% and 64%, respectively).

The survey also shows Americans believe vaccine scientists are just as beneficial, credible, self-correcting, and unbiased as scientists in general. But vaccine scientists were seen as less prudent than scientists in general. 

Late last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 34 people in 13 states have been sickened in an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul tied to backyard poultry.

So far no deaths have been associated with this outbreak, but 13 people have been hospitalized. 

Michigan has the most cases, with six, followed by Wisconsin and Ohio, each of which have five cases. Indiana, Kentucky, and Maine each have three cases. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 26, 2026, to March 31, 2026.

41% of cases in children under 5 

“Children younger than 5 years old shouldn't handle the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or anything in the area where the birds live and roam. They are more likely to get sick from Salmonella,” the CDC said. 

Forty-one-percent of case-patients in this outbreak are under the age of 5 years, and, of the 29 people interviewed by investigators, 23 (79%) reported contact with backyard poultry in the days prior to illness.

“Of 14 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 13 (93%) bought or obtained poultry since January 1, 2026,” the CDC said. “People reported getting their poultry from various places, including agricultural retail stores.”

The CDC said it will continue to investigate the hatcheries associated with cases. 

Cases of pneumococcal pneumonia surged in 2022 and 2023. The bacterial infection attacks the lungs, causing air sacs to become inflamed and fill with fluid.

New findings published today by the American Academy of Pediatrics show that this post-COVID increase was largely driven by a specific subtype of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria: Serotype 3 is associated with severe complications, including meningitis. 

These findings are especially salient for young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, as these groups have the highest risk.

Finding the culprit

There are more than 100 distinct subgroups of S pneumoniae, though most hospitals lack the laboratory capacity to determine which serotype is causing an infection.

However, the study found that among 190 kids with pneumococcal pneumonia from 2017 to 2023, serotype 3 infected 32% of patients. 

Researchers note that serotype 3 was, "The only individual serotype with a significantly higher rate in 2022–2023 compared with 2018–2019." (Rate ratio, 3.0)

The findings don’t surprise the study's lead author, Eric E. Engstrom, MD, at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. The pediatric infectious diseases specialist told CIDRAP News that he and other clinicians have noticed that more pneumococcal pneumonia patients are suffering from severe infections, which is indicative of Serotype 3.

Parents get impatient. Patients get impatient. And certainly, the providers get impatient.

Engstrom said these findings can inform clinical decisions because while patients with serotype 3 take longer to improve, this form of S pneumoniae responds well to common antibiotics, including penicillin.

"Parents get impatient. Patients get impatient. And certainly, the providers get impatient," he said.

But as the findings suggest, sometimes patience is the right course rather than prescribing broader, potentially more harmful antibiotics.