Americans say benefits of MMR vaccine for children outweigh risks by nearly 5-1, survey finds

The US is within the midst of the second-highest yr of measles instances since 2000, when the illness was declared eradicated on this nation, that means that instances inside the USA originated exterior the nation. As of Might 8, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2025, there have been over a thousand confirmed U.S. instances of measles and three confirmed deaths from measles.

As a result of many instances go unreported, this quantity is taken into account an undercount. In distinction to the present outbreak, from the time the USA declared that measles was now not endemic by means of final yr (2000-2024), there’s been a median of about 180 measles instances a yr.

Whereas many Individuals know the way measles can unfold, most can not precisely estimate the prevalence of issues related to measles reminiscent of hospitalization or the dangers it presents throughout being pregnant, in response to the newest Annenberg Science and Public Well being (ASAPH) survey, which was performed amongst 1,653 empaneled U.S. adults from April 15-28, 2025, by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania.

The survey finds that greater than 8 in 10 Individuals (83%) are usually not fearful that they or somebody of their household will contract measles over the following three months. “Because the overwhelming variety of people on this nation, together with kids, both have had measles or have been vaccinated in opposition to it, it’s unsurprising that few are fearful about getting the virus,” mentioned Kathleen Corridor Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Coverage Middle and of the survey.

“However with measles instances reported in 31 states and vaccination charges dropping, everybody must be educated in regards to the signs, remedy, and the prevention of measles by means of the extremely efficient MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.”

The 2 doses of the measles vaccine—that are advisable at ages 12-to-15 months for the primary dose and 4 to six years outdated for the second dose—are 97% effective at stopping measles amongst those that are vaccinated and uncovered to it, the CDC stories.

Stopping measles with the MMR vaccine

Though a long time of analysis have established that the childhood vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) is the best way to protect against measles, some mother and father are hesitant to have their kids vaccinated, partly due to the debunked claim that the MMR vaccine may cause autism.

Two-thirds of Individuals (67%) say the purported hyperlink between MMR and autism is a false one. Whereas the proportion who say the MMR vaccine doesn’t trigger autism is sizable, it’s considerably decrease than the 74% who mentioned so in June 2021, when the ASAPH survey first requested this query. Within the present survey, 1 in 7 folks (14%) say it’s true that the MMR vaccine causes autism, a rise of 5 share factors from June 2021 (9%).

To most Individuals, the advantages of the MMR vaccine for youngsters outweigh the dangers by a large margin (83% vs. 17%). Nonetheless, the share of Individuals who consider the advantages outweigh the dangers has dropped barely however considerably from August 2023, when 89% mentioned the advantages outweighed the dangers. Additional, 81% say it’s true that medical professionals advocate that those that are in a position to be safely vaccinated take the MMR vaccine even when their probabilities of publicity are low. This proportion is considerably greater in comparison with April 2024, when 74% mentioned this was true.

Most agree on vaccine necessities for youngsters to attend public college

When requested about their views on MMR vaccine necessities for youngsters attending college, vastly extra folks agree that wholesome kids must be required to be vaccinated to attend public college due to the potential threat to others who are usually not vaccinated (70%) than say mother and father ought to be capable to determine, even when it creates dangers for others (18%).

These outcomes present a major uptick in assist for college vaccine necessities within the 20 months since August 2023 (63%), and a major decline amongst these supporting parental alternative (22% in August 2023).

Measles dangers throughout being pregnant not broadly understood

For people who find themselves pregnant and haven’t had the MMR vaccine, getting measles can result in serious complications, reminiscent of delivering a low-birth weight child and early supply. When requested to pick out amongst an inventory of issues that might happen in somebody with measles who’s pregnant, a 3rd of survey respondents appropriately determine delivering a low birthweight child (34%) or experiencing an early supply (34%) as issues of getting measles whereas pregnant.

Extra folks determine dying as a potential complication this yr (16%, considerably greater than the 12% final yr). A small variety of folks incorrectly point out that diabetes (7%) and blurred imaginative and prescient (11%) usually tend to happen in case you have measles whereas pregnant. They aren’t. Most Individuals (57%) say they don’t seem to be certain what the issues are.

The CDC recommends measles vaccination earlier than however not throughout being pregnant for individuals who are unvaccinated; nonetheless, solely 15% know this. The CDC notes: “Though MMR is a secure and efficient vaccine, there’s a theoretical threat to the infant. It’s because it’s a stay vaccine, that means it incorporates a weakened model of the residing viruses.”

The CDC recommends the MMR vaccine be given a month or extra earlier than somebody turns into pregnant, if that particular person was not already vaccinated in opposition to measles, mumps, and rubella.

Most know the way measles unfold, however few grasp dangers

Amid the present measles outbreak, practically 6 in 10 (58%) say there are extra measles cases within the U.S. than within the comparable interval last year. Greater than 1 / 4 (27%) point out that they don’t seem to be certain whether or not there are extra instances than final yr, 5% assume there are fewer instances, and 11% say the variety of instances is about the identical.

• Extra folks know the way measles spreads: Most Individuals can determine frequent methods measles spreads. Two-thirds (66%) appropriately say that measles will be unfold by touching a contaminated floor after which touching one’s nostril, mouth, or eyes, a major enhance from final April when 59% indicated this as a way of spreading measles. Barely fewer Individuals (63%) appropriately say that measles will be unfold by coughing or sneezing, no statistical distinction from final yr.

• Few know the measles incubation interval: Only a few of these surveyed know the way lengthy an individual contaminated with measles can unfold the virus earlier than growing the signature measles rash. One in 7 (14%) appropriately estimate that an individual can unfold the an infection for 4 days earlier than growing a rash, whereas 12% estimate that the interval is one week. The vast majority of folks (55%) report not being certain. These outcomes are unchanged from April 2024.

• Few precisely estimate signs and issues: Though a majority of respondents know frequent ways in which measles can unfold, about half of Individuals specific uncertainty about how usually sure complications happen—and solely a small share can precisely estimate them. Accuracy was decided for these signs if the respondent estimated the incidence inside a spread of ± 4 share factors of the particular CDC incidence.

Respondents had been requested to estimate the quantity of people that would expertise particular signs and issues out of 100 folks with measles.

• Hospitalization. The CDC reports that about 13% of people that bought measles in 2025 had been hospitalized, however simply over 1 in 8 Individuals (13%) estimate this incidence appropriately. A 3rd (33%) say they don’t seem to be certain in regards to the incidence and the rest both overestimate (36%) or underestimate (17%) the incidence of these with measles who will change into hospitalized. This represents no vital change from 2024.
• Diarrhea. In keeping with the CDC, about 1 in 10 individuals who change into contaminated with measles will expertise diarrhea in consequence. Fifty-four p.c of Individuals are usually not certain how many individuals out of 100 with measles would expertise diarrhea, a major enhance in uncertainty of 6 share factors since April 2024, once we final requested this query (48% uncertain). 4% estimate precisely, 33% overestimate the incidence (down considerably from 40% final yr), and seven% underestimate the quantity.

Beliefs about non-vaccine therapies for measles

Visiting Texas in the course of the measles outbreak in March of this yr, U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned in a Fox Information interview that medical doctors had been getting constructive outcomes by treating measles with, amongst different issues, cod liver oil, which incorporates “high concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D.“

Well being consultants grew involved that the emphasis on vitamin A might be misheard to counsel that vitamin A may forestall the illness amongst these uncovered to it. Nonetheless, consultants on infectious ailments emphasize that vitamin A can not forestall somebody from getting measles.

And a latest New York Times story stories that Texas physicians treating measles sufferers say they’ve cared for “a handful of unvaccinated kids who got a lot vitamin A that they’d indicators of liver harm.” (See our mission FactCheck.org’s report on Kennedy’s latest, deceptive statements about measles.)

The ASAPH survey requested about vitamin A and cod liver oil as a safety measure in opposition to measles and located {that a} plurality says that taking a every day dose of vitamin A (46%) or a considerable amount of cod liver oil every day (47%) has no impact on whether or not one will get measles. An equal quantity are uncertain in regards to the effectiveness of every (45% and 48%, respectively). Simply 9% say taking vitamin A every day helps shield one in opposition to getting measles and simply 4% say taking giant quantities of cod liver oil every day would do the identical.

As for the overall well being advantages of taking a considerable amount of cod liver oil on daily basis, 48% say they’re uncertain whether or not there are any well being advantages or not. Simply as many say cod liver oil improves an individual’s well being (16%) as say it harms (15%) one’s well being. (A 2024 research suggests that fish oil dietary supplements “might be a risk factor” amongst wholesome folks for atrial fibrillation and stroke.) A fifth (22%) say taking giant quantities of cod liver oil on daily basis has no impact on one’s well being someway.

The ASAPH survey

The survey knowledge come from the twenty fourth wave of a nationally consultant panel of 1,653 U.S. adults, first empaneled in April 2021, performed for the Annenberg Public Coverage Middle by SSRS, an unbiased market analysis firm. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being Information (ASAPH) survey was fielded April 15-April 28, 2025.

The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.4 share factors on the 95% confidence stage. All figures are rounded to the closest complete quantity and should not add to 100%. Mixed subcategories could not add to totals within the topline and textual content resulting from rounding.