US trust in MMR vaccine safety declines amid measles outbreaks

A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that trust in the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has declined among Americans. Currently, 76% of respondents believe the vaccine is safe for children, a drop from 84% recorded in May 2020.

This decline in confidence coincides with a period of significant measles activity. The CDC has recorded 3,294 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. this year, a 35-year high. In Pennsylvania, nearly 700 cases were reported, with four deaths associated with the virus confirmed.

Vaccination rates among kindergarteners have also seen a downward trend. CDC data shows MMR uptake was 92.4% for the 2025-26 school year, down from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year. This falls below the approximately 95% threshold typically required for community immunity.

The poll also highlighted partisan differences in perception. Regarding the response to outbreaks, 45% of Americans expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s ability to manage infectious diseases, compared to 25% for the Republican Party. Additionally, 52% of respondents disapproved of the Trump administration’s handling of recent outbreaks.