As rates of childhood vaccination decline and with measles on the rise again, a KFF Health Misinformation Tracking Poll, fielded in late February, examines the extent to which adults have heard and believe misinformation about the measles vaccine. The poll also examines the public’s views of the U.S. government and social media companies’ role in moderating false health claims online.
While most of the public—including parents—haven’t heard misinformation about the measles vaccine, many are uncertain about the validity of one specific false claim. About one in five adults (18%, including 19% of parents of children under age 18) say they have heard or read the claim, “Getting the measles vaccine is more dangerous than becoming infected with measles.”
A relatively small share leans towards believing the claim is true. Regardless of whether they have heard the claim, a fifth of adults (19%), including one quarter of parents (25%), say the claim is “definitely” or “probably” true. Six percent of U.S. adults—including about one in ten (9%) parents—say they have heard the claim and think it is probably or definitely true.
Across partisans, levels of educational attainment, and race and ethnicity, fewer than five percent of adults say that the claim is “definitely true,” meaning that there are few ardent believers in this piece of misinformation. However, independents (37%) and Republicans (21%) are less likely than Democrats (59%) to be certain that the claim is “definitely false.” Those without a college degree (29%) are also less likely to say that the claim is false than those with a college degree (55%).
While the public is much more likely to correctly identify the claim that the measles vaccine is more dangerous than the disease itself as false, a majority express at least some uncertainty. More than half the public says this claim is either “probably false” (41%) or “probably true” (16%). Few (3%) say it is “definitely true” while four in ten (38%) are confident that the claim is “definitely false.”
KFF
We can’t control what others do and we can’t stop misfortune from striking. But we can control our own actions. Those who are financially prudent will most likely enjoy success, even if events don’t always go their way.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
I really long for those days when experts, who were speaking specifically about a topic within that area of expertise, were listened to. And if there was disagreement between them, it was both interesting and educational to read or hear them debate the issue.
I have listened to non-health care, college educated reasonable people tell me in all sincerity that they resist having their children vaccinated against various childhood diseases because of various claims they have heard or read, that they are unnecessary, ineffective, or “worse than the disease itself”.
When I suggested that the overwhelming majority of experts in the area agree the vaccines’ risks are minimal and their benefit is very high on average, they will respond with such rebuttals as “I think the drug manufacturers are profiting off the vaccines and they bribe doctors to recommend them”. This is not a debate of a scientific question, but rather me challenging a religious belief they choose to believe.
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Interesting there was no mention of the racial view point because it would not support KFF biases.
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I feel like I live in a distorted reality. Just a decade ago, anti vaxxers were mostly far left wellness influencers. To see it take over the Republican Party, and so quickly, is both fascinating and tragic. Next thing you know, the GOP will be pro-Russia and pro-China….no wait, that has already happened too…
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Social media has allowed us to become a town hall for expression about all kinds of issues. This is the price we pay for free expression of ideas, thoughts, and opinion. Be careful of folks wanting to regulate “disinformation”–usually disinformation is an idea that they disagree with–who will be the censor?
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