Press Release: New Poll Finds Texas Republican Voters Overwhelmingly Support Protecting Access to…

For Immediate Release

April 8, 2026

Contact:

Gabi Nintunze

E: gnintunze@texasnurses.org

Darrick Nicholas

E: dnicholas@texasnurses.org

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New Poll Finds Texas Republican Voters Overwhelmingly Support Protecting Access to Vaccines to Prevent the Spread of Communicable Illnesses

Roughly 85% of Those Surveyed Back Policies Ensuring Safe and Effective Vaccines Remain Widely Available

Austin, TX – As National Infant Immunization Week approaches, the Texas Nurses Association (TNA), the leading statewide association of licensed nurses, today released findings from a new survey examining attitudes toward vaccines among Republican voters in Texas and how the recent statewide measles outbreak may have influenced those views.

The results show that the overwhelming majority of Texas Republican voters recognize the role vaccines play in preventing diseases and expect state policymakers to support policies that protect against disease outbreaks and ensure continued access to safe and effective vaccines.

A 2024 Gallup poll pointed to a decline in vaccination support among national Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. These findings led TNA to probe attitudes among Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters in Texas to better understand the purported shift in Republican voters’ attitudes toward immunizations.

This state-specific data indicates support for immunizations in Texas remains strong, regardless of party affiliation.

“As we see a rise in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in Texas, it is understandable that the growing call for action is more unified,” TNA CEO Dr. Serena Bumpus said. “We encourage our lawmakers to refer to this study when considering public health measures that match what the public wants.”

Key findings of the survey include:

• Texas Republicans recognize the effectiveness of vaccines. Nearly 9 in 10 Texas Republican primary voters agree vaccines have successfully prevented once-common illnesses — signaling strong public support for policies that maintain access to routine immunizations.

• Voters want lawmakers to protect vaccine access and prevent outbreaks. About 85% of those surveyed say state lawmakers should ensure safe and effective vaccines remain widely available. 75% of those surveyed want lawmakers to prioritize protecting Texans from future measles outbreaks.

• Medical expertise should guide policy decisions. Nearly 85% say state lawmakers should listen to doctors and nurses when shaping vaccine policy.

• Science, not politics, should drive vaccine policy. An overwhelming 93% agree that vaccine decisions should be based on science and medical expertise rather than politics.

“It is important for voters and lawmakers to understand that immunizations in the United States are rigorously tested for safety and efficacy before they are brought to market,” Jack Frazee, TNA’s director of government affairs and general counsel, said. “Thanks to the premarket approval system, we can rest assured that immunizations recommended by health professionals are based on sound science. By ensuring access to these incredible technologies, we can live free of diseases that previously devastated the health and safety of communities across Texas.”

To view the full findings of the survey, click here.

Disclosures: The Texas Nurses Association and its consultants, Rational 360, partnered with Public Opinion Strategies to conduct a statewide survey in Texas among 600 likely GOP primary voters. The survey was fielded between December 3 and December 7, 2025. The survey was conducted over phone and via text-to-web. The margin of error for results +4.0%. This poll was supported by Pfizer.

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About Texas Nurses Association

The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) is a statewide membership-based professional association of licensed nurses. Founded in 1907, TNA is the most inclusive nursing association in Texas and one of the largest state nursing associations in the country.

Our members represent all segments of nursing practice — bedside to administration, consulting to advanced practice, and education to legislation — and all practice settings, including hospital, home and community health, public health, higher education, long-term care, school health and policy. As diverse as they are, TNA members share a common purpose: Advancing excellence in nursing. Visit www.texasnurses.org.