Measles misinformation is spreading in the U.S., and most aren’t sure what they believe, poll finds – CTV
April 23, 2025
As a measles outbreak centered in West Texas continues to grow, a new poll finds that a growing share of adults in the United States have heard false claims about the disease and the vaccine to prevent it – and many aren’t completely confident in their conviction.
Nearly two-thirds of adults have heard the false claim that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism, according to new poll data published Wednesday by KFF. 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.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shared each of these claims at some point, despite strong scientific evidence that they’re not true. Kennedy has a complicated history with the measles vaccine, only recently giving it a clear endorsement – and still pushing that it’s a “personal” choice.
About a quarter of adults incorrectly believe that the MMR vaccine is “definitely” or “probably” linked to autism, according to the KFF poll. About a quarter believe that vitamin A can prevent measles infections, despite caution from health officials about potential dangers. And 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.
