A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reveals alarming levels of misinformation regarding measles and the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine across the U.S. The survey, released Wednesday, highlights how significant false claims around the virus and its vaccine remain, contributing to increased public uncertainty amidst ongoing measles outbreaks.
Currently, the U.S. is grappling with persistent measles outbreaks, with over 900 cases reported across 27 states this year. Two school-aged children and one adult have died from measles in 2025, and none of them were vaccinated. The MMR vaccine protects against measles with a 97% success rate when administered in two doses.
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Misinformation around the measles vaccine has become more widespread, with nearly six in ten adults reporting they’ve encountered the long-debunked claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism. Additionally:
- One in three U.S. adults say they’ve heard the false assertion that measles vaccines are more dangerous than the disease itself, up by a worrying 15 percentage points from last year.
- One in five adults have encountered false claims that Vitamin A can prevent measles infections.
Although only a small segment (less than 5%) of respondents said these claims are “definitely true,” more than 50% reported uncertainty, categorizing them as either “probably true” or “probably false.”
The confusion underscores the need for accurate vaccine information to counteract harmful falsehoods, according to Ashley Kirzinger, co-author of the study and Associate Director of KFF’s Public Opinion and Survey Research Program. She highlighted the troubling implications of these findings.
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“The most alarming thing about the survey is that we’re seeing an uptick in the share of people who have heard these claims. It’s not that more people are believing the autism theory, but more and more people are hearing about it,” Kirzinger said.
Vaccine Beliefs Vary Greatly, Depending on Political Party Affiliation
Partisan differences emerged as a significant factor in vaccine skepticism:
- 35% of Republicans believe the vaccine-autism link is “definitely” or “probably true,” compared to just 10% of Democrats.
- Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to believe the measles shot is more dangerous than the disease (20% vs. 10%, respectively).
Similarly, awareness of the rise in measles cases diverges along party lines, with 71% of Democrats aware of the increase in cases compared to 49% of Republicans.
Misinformation Impacts Vaccination Rates, Threatens Child Safety
The misinformation doesn’t just stop at beliefs; it’s influencing action, particularly among parents. Among parents who believe at least one of the false claims is “definitely” or “probably true,” nearly one in four (24%) reported delaying or skipping vaccines for their children. This is more than double the rate (11%) seen in parents who believe the claims are false.
Despite the misinformation and political divides, a majority of adults and parents remain confident in the safety of vaccines.
