Confusion continues to grow about vaccinations for children as a result of actions and comments by the Trump administration’s Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has cut funding and raised questions about approved vaccines.
A recent KFF-Washington Post partnership survey of parents explores their experiences with and views about vaccines for their children, including a look into how they make decisions related to vaccines and where they are uncertain or confused about their safety.
The poll comes as Kennedy Jr. continues to question the childhood vaccine schedule and to raise doubts about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Based on interviews with more than 2,700 parents, including more than 1,000 parents with children under age 6 who have had to make decisions about vaccines in the post-COVID era.
The survey reveals large majorities of parents view long-standing childhood vaccines such as the ones to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and polio as safe and important, but are less confident in seasonal vaccines for flu and especially COVID-19.
While most parents say they keep their children up to date on recommended childhood vaccines, about one in six (16%) say that they have delayed or skipped at least one vaccine for their children (other than those for flu and COVID-19). Those most likely to report delaying or skipping vaccines include Republican parents (22%), especially those who identify with President Trump’s “Make America Great...
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