路透／易普索民調：美國民眾對麻疹疫苗信任度下降

傑森・蘭格、雅絲敏・阿布塔勒布報導By Jason Lange and Yasmeen Abutaleb

華盛頓，9月15日（路透）——路透／易普索一項最新民調發現，美國民眾近年來對包括麻疹在內、可致命兒童疾病疫苗的信任度已經下降。美國正經歷數十年來最嚴重的麻疹疫情，這是一項令人憂心的跡象。WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Americans' trust in vaccines for deadly childhood diseases including measles has fallen in recent years, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, a troubling sign for the country as it experiences its worst measles outbreaks in decades.

這項為期4天、週一完成的民調顯示，美國多數民眾仍跨黨派支持為兒童接種麻疹疫苗。麻疹在美國已大致消失逾20年，但近年來在疫苗接種率下降後再度流行。The four-day poll, completed on Monday, showed that a bipartisan majority of the nation still backs vaccinating children against measles, a disease that largely disappeared from the U.S. for more than two decades until a resurgence took hold in recent years following a decline in vaccination rates.

約76%的美國民眾表示，他們相信麻疹、腮腺炎和德國麻疹疫苗對兒童安全，低於2020年5月路透／易普索民調的84%。信任度下降在共和黨人之中最為明顯，該黨部分人士淡化疫苗的重要性。Some 76% of Americans said they believe vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella are safe for kids, down from 84% in a May 2020 Reuters/Ipsos poll. The declining trust was most pronounced among Republicans, as some in the party have downplayed the importance of vaccines.

美國總統唐納・川普（Donald Trump）8月簽署行政命令，要求將聯邦兒童疫苗接種時程中的疫苗數量從17種減至11種。這位共和黨總統的最高衛生官員小羅勃・甘迺迪（Robert F. Kennedy Jr.）在川普任命他為衛生部長前，長期是反疫苗倡議人士。他上任後力圖全面改革美國疫苗政策，主張減少兒童接種的疫苗。President Donald Trump signed an executive order in August that called for reducing the number of immunizations on the federal childhood vaccination schedule from 17 to 11. The Republican president's top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was a longtime anti-vaccine activist before Trump made him health secretary. In that role, he has sought to overhaul U.S. vaccine policy, pushing for fewer vaccines for children.

35年來最嚴重疫情WORST OUTBREAK IN 35 YEARS

賓夕法尼亞州、猶他州和南卡羅來納州今年正面臨麻疹疫情。賓夕法尼亞州近幾週宣布3起麻疹相關死亡病例。美國今年累計超過3000起確診感染，為35年來最多。Pennsylvania, Utah and South Carolina are grappling with measles outbreaks this year. Pennsylvania announced three measles-related deaths in recent weeks. The country has tallied more than 3,000 confirmed infections this year, the most in 35 years.

麻疹可能引發發燒、皮疹和呼吸道問題等症狀，傳染力極強，但可透過麻疹、腮腺炎和德國麻疹混合疫苗輕易預防。這是兒童例行接種的疫苗，接種兩劑後預防感染的有效率達97%。通常第一劑在12至15個月大時施打，第二劑則在4至6歲時施打。Measles, which can cause symptoms including fever, rash and respiratory issues, is highly contagious but easily preventable with the measles, mumps and rubella combination vaccine, a routine shot for children that is 97% effective in preventing infection after two doses. It is typically given at age 12 to 15 months and then again at age 4 to 6 years.

根據美國疾病管制暨預防中心（CDC）資料，美國幼兒園學童的平均疫苗接種涵蓋率去年降至92.5%，低於專家所稱達成所謂群體免疫所需的95%水準。群體免疫可保護社區中無法接種疫苗的人。Average U.S. vaccination coverage among kindergarten children dropped last year to 92.5%, according to CDC data, below the 95% level experts say is necessary to achieve so-called herd immunity that can protect those in the community unable to get the vaccine.

路透／易普索民調顯示，僅19%的美國民眾認可川普處理麻疹疫情的表現，52%不認可。其餘受訪者表示沒有看法或未回答這個問題。The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed just 19% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the measles outbreak, compared with 52% who disapprove. The rest said they didn't have a view or didn't answer the question.

一度難以想像的里程碑ONCE-UNTHINKABLE MILESTONE

川普鮮少談及麻疹疫情，即使外界普遍預期，美國將在今年稍晚失去麻疹消除狀態；去年開始的疫情已導致持續傳播。對一個曾以20多年前透過高疫苗接種率根除這項疾病為傲的國家而言，這是一項一度難以想像的里程碑。Trump has rarely spoken about the measles outbreak, even as the U.S. is widely expected to lose its measles elimination status later this year after outbreaks that began last year led to sustained transmission. That is a once-unthinkable milestone for a country that had prided itself on eradicating the disease more than two decades ago through high vaccination rates.

在路透／易普索調查中，被問及哪個政黨對阻止麻疹等傳染病有較佳做法時，登記選民以45%對25%選擇民主黨勝過共和黨。Registered voters in the Reuters/Ipsos survey picked Democrats over Republicans by 45% to 25% when asked which party has a better approach to stopping infectious diseases like measles.

這可能令部分共和黨人憂心，因為該黨正尋求在11月3日的期中選舉中維持對國會的控制。不過，疫苗和疾病遠非選民最關切的議題。That might be worrisome for some Republicans as the party seeks to keep control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, though vaccines and disease are far from the top concerns to voters.

約31%的選民表示，他們非常擔心麻疹疫情；相較之下，58%的選民表示非常擔心生活成本。Some 31% of voters said they were very worried about measles outbreaks, compared to 58% who said the same about their cost of living.

賓夕法尼亞州上月宣布兩起麻疹相關死亡病例後，甘迺迪再次重複「MMR疫苗含有墮胎胎兒殘留物」的不實說法，並質疑麻疹是否與這些死亡病例有關。賓夕法尼亞州本週宣布第三起麻疹相關死亡病例。After Pennsylvania announced two measles-related deaths last month, Kennedy again repeated the false claim that the MMR vaccine contains aborted fetus debris and cast doubt on whether measles played a role in the deaths. Pennsylvania announced a third measles-related death this week.

這項路透／易普索民調在全美以線上方式進行，共收集1143名美國成年人的回覆，誤差範圍為3個百分點。The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was conducted online and nationwide, gathered responses from 1,143 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

（華盛頓傑森・蘭格、雅絲敏・阿布塔勒布報導；史考特・馬龍、比爾・伯克羅特編輯）(Reporting by Jason Lange and Yasmeen Abutaleb in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Berkrot)