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HealthQuiet 8d · day 9

Americans' trust in measles vaccines falls to 76%, posing crisis risk

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows vaccine confidence eroded amid Trump policies and RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine stance, as measles cases hit 35-year high.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 8d ago9 pieces NewswiresMastodonBlueskyGoogle News

What to know

  • Vaccine confidence among Americans fell 8 points to 76% since May 2020, with steepest declines among Republicans, amid Trump's executive order cutting childhood vaccine schedule and RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine advocacy.
  • The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 35 years with 3,000+ cases and three deaths in Pennsylvania; vaccination coverage at 92.5% has dropped below the 95% herd immunity threshold.
  • Only 19% of Americans approve of Trump's measles response; voters favor Democrats 45%-25% on infectious disease handling, though measles ranks below cost of living as voter concern.
  • The U.S. is expected to lose its measles elimination status in 2026 if sustained transmission continues, a historic reversal for a nation that eradicated the disease decades ago.

Donald TrumpDonald Trump U.S. PresidentRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health Secretary, longtime anti-vaccine activist

Americans' trust in measles vaccines falls to 76%, posing crisis risk
Straits Times

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 5 pieces in two hours at Sep 15, 5 AM; 9 pieces over 9 days (6 articles · 3 posts) Sep 15, 5 AM — 5 pieces · 4 articles · 1 post — Newswires 4, Mastodon 1Sep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 15, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 15, 1 PM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 9 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 1 AM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 9 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 16, 1 PM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 9 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 9 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 9 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 6:43 AM ET
  1. 2

    Kennedy repeats debunked claims about MMR vaccine containing aborted fetal material

    Following Pennsylvania's announcement of measles deaths, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeated debunked claims that the MMR shot contains aborted fetal material and questioned measles' role in the fatalities.

    1. 1 outlet Fears of catastrophic measles crisis grow as trust in lifesaving vaccines hits bottom

      first by Independent UK, 9d ago

    • BruceMirken@mas.to

      The "pro-life" party killing kids: "As # measles cases and deaths mount from multiple outbreaks across the United States, a four-day Reuters/Ipsos poll completed yesterday shows declining trust in the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (#MMR) # vaccine for children (76%, down from 84% in 2020). The deteriorating trust was most apparent…

      BruceMirken@mas.toMastodon8d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. background

    U.S. measles cases hit 3,000+ in 2026; vaccination coverage at 92.5%, below herd immunity threshold — The U.S. has recorded over 3,000 confirmed measles cases in 2026, the highest level in 35 years. MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarteners dropped to 92.5% in 2025, falling short of the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. Pennsylvania, Utah, and South Carolina are experiencing outbreaks, with Pennsylvania reporting three measles-related deaths.

  3. 1

    Poll shows 19% approve of Trump's handling of measles outbreak; Democrats favored 45%-25%

    The Reuters/Ipsos poll found just 19% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the measles outbreak, with 52% disapproving. Registered voters favored Democrats over Republicans by 45% to 25% when asked which party is better suited to handle infectious diseases like measles.

    “Just 19% of poll respondents approved of Trump's handling of the outbreak, compared to 52% who disapproved.”
    — Reuters/Ipsos poll
    1. 3 outlets Trust in measles vaccines falls in US, Reuters Ipsos poll finds

      first by Reuters, 7d ago · also Investing.com News, Straits Times

  4. background

    Reuters/Ipsos poll shows vaccine trust fell to 76%, sharpest drop among Republicans — A four-day Reuters/Ipsos poll concluded on September 14 found that 76% of Americans now believe measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are safe for children—an 8-point drop from May 2020. The decline was most pronounced among Republicans, following efforts by some party figures to downplay vaccine importance.

  5. background

    Trump orders reduction of federal childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11 shots — President Donald Trump signed an executive order in August directing a reduction in the recommended federal childhood vaccine schedule, cutting immunizations from 17 to 11.

  6. background

    Reuters/Ipsos poll baseline: 84% of Americans trust measles vaccines — A Reuters/Ipsos poll from May 2020 established that 84% of Americans believed measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were safe for children, serving as the baseline for measuring subsequent decline.