Misinformation Fuels Measles Spread, New Poll Reveals

U.S. Measles Cases Surpass 800 Amid Rising Concern Over Misinformation

The United States has now reported more than 800 measles cases across at least two dozen states, with Texas bearing the brunt of the outbreak at more than 600 cases. As public health officials work to contain the spread, a new poll by KFF reveals concerning trends about how misinformation is influencing public perception of measles and vaccination.

The nationwide survey, which included 1,380 adults and was conducted in early April, shows that while most Americans still trust in vaccine safety, a significant number are uncertain about what to believe regarding measles-related claims.

“The good news is the vast majority of people still have confidence in the safety of the measles vaccine,” said Liz Hamel, director of public opinion and survey research at KFF, a nonprofit health policy research organization that conducted the poll. “The bad news: People are being exposed to a lot of false claims about measles—and many don’t know what to make of it.”

The survey specifically examined public perception of three false statements: that the measles vaccine is more dangerous than contracting the disease itself, that the vaccine causes autism in children, and that vitamin A can prevent measles infection. While only 5% of adults firmly believed these falsehoods to be true, a much larger percentage expressed uncertainty, indicating they thought the claims were “probably false” but weren’t completely confident.

More troublingly, significant portions of respondents actually leaned toward believing these false claims. One in four adults surveyed believed vitamin A either “probably” or “definitely” prevents measles. Meanwhile, 19% thought it was probably or definitely true that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is more dangerous than the disease itself.

The poll revealed a clear political divide in how Americans perceive measles information. “We see that Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to lean towards believing this misinformation about measles,” Hamel explained. “And that’s true among parents as well.”

This belief gap carries serious public health implications. While most parents reported keeping their children up-to-date on recommended vaccines, the survey found that among those who believed at least one of the false claims, one in four had either skipped or delayed some recommended vaccines for their children. “Those parents are more than twice as likely to say that they have delayed or skipped some vaccines for their children compared to parents who don’t believe any of those claims,” noted Hamel. “I think this is one of the more concerning findings from the poll.”

The current measles outbreak comes at a time when childhood vaccination rates have been declining in some communities. Measles is highly contagious, with one infected person able to spread the virus to up to 90% of susceptible individuals nearby. While most children recover, the disease can cause serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and in rare cases, death. Before widespread vaccination, measles killed hundreds of Americans annually.

Public health experts have expressed growing concern about vaccine hesitancy in recent years. The World Health Organization has identified it as one of the top ten threats to global health. In the U.S., increasing numbers of parents have sought nonmedical exemptions from school immunization requirements, creating pockets of vulnerability where outbreaks can more easily take hold.

The KFF poll highlights the challenge facing health communicators and medical professionals in an era of information overload. “In a world where people are bombarded with health information—and misinformation—on all kinds of media platforms, they don’t always know how to evaluate what they’re hearing or reading or who to trust,” Hamel said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to emphasize that the MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, with two doses providing approximately 97% protection against measles. Health officials stress that maintaining high vaccination rates—around 95% of the population—is crucial for preserving community immunity and preventing outbreaks.

As the current outbreak continues, public health departments nationwide are increasing education efforts and vaccine accessibility, particularly in affected communities, while working to counter the spread of misinformation that threatens to undermine these efforts.