WASHINGTON — A House hearing on vaccine safety claims sought to pierce through Americans’ falling confidence in routine shots and the spread of Covid-19 misinformation — sometimes from people in the room.
The latest hearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic comes amid a global drop in vaccinations, even routine childhood inoculations. Americans’ belief in vaccine safety has steadily declined during the pandemic, with 71% now saying they believe approved shots are safe.
While most of the committee’s Republicans, four of them doctors, argued that the government fumbled vaccine outreach by initially suggesting getting the shots would prevent transmission or infection — and seemingly encouraging vaccine requirements — they were careful not to question the vaccines’ safety.
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