O-SenseMore than two-thirds of Idaho adults believe all children who attend public schools should be required to receive vaccinations, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The vaccination issue has become heated in Idaho and in many states, especially as vaccination rates have dropped. Vaccination proponents say children who are not vaccinated pose a danger to others, not just to themselves, so government should require vaccinations.
But some vaccination opponents cite religious objections to vaccinations, and some believe vaccinations can lead to other health problems, like autism.
A recent Dan Jones & Associates poll for Idaho Politics Weekly on issues of interest to Idahoans showed that 68 percent of Idaho adults definitely (46 percent) or probably (22 percent) think all children in public schools should be vaccinated, no matter what their religious beliefs. Some 27 percent say vaccinations should not be required (13 percent say probably not, 14 percent say definitely not).
Conservative Idahoans were less convinced that schoolchildren needed to be vaccinated than their liberal counterparts:
- 37% of "very conservative" residents said they "definitely" thought kids needed to be vaccinated, while another 16% said "probably."
- 68% of those who said they were "somewhat conservative" thought vaccinations should be required.
- More than 2/3 of moderates (76%) thought vaccinations should be mandatory.
- 72% of "somewhat liberal" Idahoans agreed with required vaccinations.
- A whopping 87% of "very liberal" residents want mandatory vaccinations.
The statewide poll was conducted Feb. 17 to Feb. 26, using a random sample of residents. The sample was comprised of landline telephone (56%), cellphone (22%), and online (22%) respondents. The possible margin of error is +/- 4.0 percent.
The vaccination issue was one of a number of questions related to public education. The survey also found that a majority of Idaho adults believe tackle football should not be allowed in elementary school, but should be continued in junior high and high school.
Some 75 percent believe Idaho school teachers are generally about the same, or better, than those in other states. But 22 percent of respondents think Idaho teachers are worse than those in other state.
And Idahoans believe bullying is a problem at all levels of public education, especially in junior high school and high school. Some 76 percent of respondents said bullying is a somewhat or serious problem in junior high school.
Here is how the responses break down:
| Do you believe all children who attend public schools should be required to receive vaccinations, regardless of their religious beliefs? | ||
| Definitely | 46% | |
| Probably | 22% | |
| Probably not | 13% | |
| Definitely not | 14% | |
| Don’t know | 5% | |
| Do you believe Idaho should discontinue tackle football at the following levels? | |||||
| Definitely discontinue | Probably discontinue |
Probably not discontinue |
Definitely not discontinue | Don’t know | |
| Elementary school | 30% | 24% | 17% | 23% | 6% |
| Junior high school | 13% | 17% | 30% | 33% | 7% |
| High school | 6% | 9% | 26% | 52% | 7% |
| Compared to other states, do you believe public school teachers in Idaho are… | |
| Better | 15% |
| Worse | 22% |
| About the same | 53% |
| How serious a problem is bullying in Idaho schools at the following levels? | |||||
| Serious problem | Somewhat a problem | Not much of a problem | Not at all a problem | Don’t know | |
| Elementary school | 22% | 45% | 14% | 2% | 17% |
| Junior high school | 36% | 40% | 7% | 1% | 16% |
| High school | 37% | 35% | 10% | 2% | 16% |
