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Americans Concerned About Measles Outbreak, Yet Supportive of Vaccine Safety: Poll
A new poll shows most Americans trust the safety of the MMR vaccine but are concerned about the Trump administration's handling of the ongoing measles outbreak.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-14
Americans Concerned About Measles Outbreak, Yet Supportive of Vaccine Safety: Poll

Ipsos poll reveals that while the vast majority of Americans believe the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe, they are growing concerned about the Trump administration’s response to the ongoing measles outbreak.

The United States is currently grappling with its largest measles outbreak in 25 years, with over 1,000 cases recorded last week. Despite this, just 31% of respondents in the poll, conducted over two days, agreed that the administration is handling the situation responsibly. Around 40% of respondents disagreed, while the remaining were unsure or did not respond.

The MMR vaccine, which prevents 97% of measles cases after two doses, has been credited with virtually eliminating the disease since 2000, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, vaccination rates in the U.S. have been on the decline in recent years, a trend linked to vaccine skepticism and misinformation. As of the 2023-2024 school year, measles vaccination rates among U.S. kindergarteners dropped to 92.7%, down from 95.2% in 2019-2020.

The poll also found that 86% of respondents believe the MMR vaccine is safe for children, a slight increase from 84% in May 2020. However, there is a growing minority of vaccine skeptics, with 13% of respondents expressing concerns about the vaccine’s safety, up from 10% five years earlier.

Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the Infectious Diseases Committee at the American Academy of Pediatrics, acknowledged the positive findings about the MMR vaccine but expressed concern about the potential impact of mixed messaging from the Trump administration and other public figures. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary for Health and Human Services, has made controversial remarks that have fueled vaccine hesitancy. While Kennedy has advocated for the MMR vaccine as an effective measles prevention tool, some of his statements have been inconsistent.

Despite these concerns, White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the administration’s stance, highlighting that Secretary Kennedy had actively promoted MMR vaccination through public statements and social media, and that HHS was investing in a $500 million universal vaccine project.

One encouraging trend in the poll was the widespread consensus that vaccinating children against measles is a societal responsibility. A strong majority—76%—of respondents, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, agreed that parents have a duty to vaccinate their children against measles. However, 25% of Republicans disagreed with this statement.

Experts note that pockets of low vaccination rates in certain areas are contributing to the current outbreaks. For example, in Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of an outbreak that has infected over 700 people, only 82% of kindergarteners are fully vaccinated. The outbreak has spread to other states, including Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, and has resulted in the deaths of unvaccinated children.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized that while most Americans trust the MMR vaccine, the real problem lies in regions with low vaccination rates. "You really have to look at these pockets," Adalja said. "That's what makes us very vulnerable."

Despite concerns about the measles outbreak, 55% of poll respondents said they were worried about the disease’s spread, while 80% cited concerns about rising inflation and 32% expressed confidence that the current administration would effectively address the outbreak and prevent measles from becoming a common illness again.

 
Tagged:

vaccination

TrumpAdministration

MeaslesOutbreak

MMRVaccine

VaccineSafety
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