Ahead of Kennedy hearing, GOP saw poll showing Trump voters support vaccines

Polling showing that a majority of President Donald Trump’s voters support vaccines was shared with several Republicans lawmakers’ staffers in a closed-door meeting Wednesday, according to two people familiar with the meeting.

NBC News obtained a copy of a memo, dated Aug. 26, summarizing the poll results. It was conducted by veteran Republican pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward and concluded “that there is broad unity across party lines supporting vaccines such as measles (MMR), shingles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP), and Hepatitis B.” Fabrizio and Ward presented the findings during the meeting, the sources said.

In an email to NBC News, Ward confirmed the memo was authentic but declined to comment about the meeting. It’s unclear who commissioned the poll or arranged the meeting. A source close to the White House denied that the administration requested the poll.

The poll results may explain the shift in tone from some GOP senators at Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hearing Thursday before the Finance Committee.

Among those at Wednesday’s meeting were staff members for senators on the Finance Committee, according to one of the sources.

The hearing grew contentious at times, with Kennedy facing questions from both Democrats and Republicans about limiting access to this fall’s Covid vaccines and the dismissal of newly confirmed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. — who was a key vote in Kennedy’s confirmation — has over recent weeks pushed back against some of Kennedy’s decisions, including the cancellation of $500 million in grants for mRNA research and the firing of all of the members of an influential vaccine advisory panel.

Last week, after Monarez was fired, Cassidy called for “significant oversight” and said the upcoming vaccine advisory meeting should be indefinitely postponed.

On Thursday, Cassidy pressed Kennedy about whether he supported vaccines, including Trump’s Operation Ward Speed initiative in 2020. He also told Kennedy that he was “denying people vaccine,” referring to reports of people having trouble getting the updated Covid shot.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., also confronted Kennedy.

“Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines,” Barrasso said. “Since then, I’ve grown deeply concerned. The public has seen measles outbreaks, leadership in the National Institute of Health questioning the use of mRNA vaccines, the recently confirmed director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fired. Americans don’t know who to rely on.”

The poll found that there was broad agreement that vaccines should continue to be made available at no cost, including two-thirds of Trump voters and more than 8 out of 10 swing voters.

Respondents said they place their greatest trust in doctors and nurses when it comes to vaccine information, including 76% of Trump voters.

About 73% of Trump voters and 83% of swing voters agreed that vaccines save lives.

While the poll showed Trump voters support most vaccines, it also found lingering partisan divides over Covid vaccines. Only 22% of Trump voters said it was important for people to get the Covid shots, according to the poll.

The memo said, however, that “Republicans should not mistake skepticism over the COVID vaccine as evidence that Republican voters are against all vaccinations.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com