Session: Empirical Studies in Religion and Medicine
How religion influences support for mRNA vaccines and genomic medicine: A discussion of findings from a survey of 4800 adults in the U.S.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM ET
Location: Heron (Fourth Floor)
Most people in the U.S. have a religious affiliation and approximately 39% are highly religious. Studies consistently find that religiosity is a strong predictor of attitudes toward healthcare technologies and services. However, data are lacking on why this is the case. The influence of religion could be due to moral teachings, views on evolution and the human body, the perceived involvement of God in health, prayer habits, or other factors. We also know little about how religion and other demographic variables (such as age, gender, and political affiliation) interact in shaping attitudes toward vaccines and genomic medicine. With funding from the NIH, we conducted a survey of 4800 adults in the U.S. in early 2023. This presentation will explore key findings, focusing on which aspects of individuals’ religious or spiritual life predict support for mRNA vaccines, prenatal genetic testing, and gene editing. We will present findings for the sample overall, as well as for major religious groups. We have participant samples of 300 or more for each of the four largest branches of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, “spiritual but not religious,” and “none.” We will characterize how cohesive different religious groups are on these issues, which is one indicator of how much groups welcome (or tolerate) a plurality of views. During the discussion, we will explore how public health genomics might respectfully and effectively engage with faith communities on vaccines and genomic medicine. We will also consider how bioethicists might leverage findings to foster constructive dialogue within a fragmented nation.