Poll Shows Measles Misinformation Spreading In US

CNN (4/23, McPhillips) reports poll data published Wednesday by KFF show that “nearly two-thirds of adults have heard the false claim that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism,” while about a “third of adults have heard the false claim that the measles vaccine is more dangerous than the disease, nearly double the share from a year ago. And about a fifth of adults have heard the false claim that vitamin A prevents measles.” According to the poll, about a quarter of adults incorrectly believe that the MMR vaccine is “definitely” or “probably” linked to autism, and “about a quarter believe that vitamin A can prevent measles infections, despite caution from health officials about potential dangers.” Furthermore, “about a fifth believe that getting the measles vaccine is more dangerous than becoming infected. These misconceptions were especially prevalent among Republicans and Hispanic adults.” The Hill (4/23, Suter) reports the poll found 51% of respondents said they were “very worried” or “somewhat worried” when it comes to “the outbreak of measles in the U.S.,” while 49% said they were “not too worried” or “not at all worried.”