Nearly half of Americans believe it is at least somewhat likely that the COVID-19 pandemic was part of a secret plan by global elites to reduce the world's population, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Wednesday.

The survey comes as questions about the origins of the virus have resurfaced following former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's recent release of declassified documents related to Dr. Anthony Fauci's role during the pandemic.

The Rasmussen poll found that 45% of U.S. adults believe it is at least somewhat likely COVID-19 was part of a global population control scheme, including 24% who said it was "very likely." Another 45% said such a theory is unlikely, including 30% who said it is "not at all likely," while 10% remained undecided.

The findings also underscore continuing public skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccines.

While 48% of respondents said the vaccines were necessary and effective at preventing the spread of the virus, 39% said it was closer to their view that the vaccines were promoted primarily to help large pharmaceutical companies make money. Another 13% said they were not sure.

Respondents who expressed the strongest doubts about the pandemic's origins were also the most skeptical of the vaccines' effectiveness. Among those who said it was "very likely" COVID-19 was part of a global population control plan, 66% also said the vaccines were promoted to benefit big pharmaceutical companies.

The survey revealed sharp partisan differences.

Among Republicans, 59% said they believe it is at least somewhat likely the pandemic was part of a secret global population control effort, compared with 44% of independents and 34% of Democrats.

On the vaccine question, 65% of Democrats said the shots were necessary and effective, compared with 42% of independents and 35% of Republicans. Conversely, 54% of Republicans, 40% of independents and 26% of Democrats said they believe the vaccines were promoted to generate profits for pharmaceutical companies.

Younger Americans were markedly more skeptical than older adults. Rasmussen found a majority of respondents under age 40 — including nearly two-thirds of men under 40 — believe it is at least somewhat likely the pandemic was part of a population control scheme.

Americans 65 and older were the age group most likely to say the vaccines were necessary and effective.

The poll also found differences across demographic groups.

Fifty-six percent of Black respondents, 51% of respondents identifying with other minority groups, 47% of white respondents and 41% of Hispanic respondents said the vaccines were necessary and effective.

Rasmussen reported that Black and Hispanic respondents were also the most likely to believe the pandemic was part of a secret global population control plan.

College graduates and Americans earning more than $50,000 annually were less likely than other respondents to believe the pandemic was orchestrated as part of a population control effort.

The poll was conducted June 24-25 and June 28 and surveyed 1,259 U.S. adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.