Support for measles vaccination drops amid growing confusion about the disease, US poll shows – CIDRAP

Report on Public Perception of MMR Vaccination and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

A recent national survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) reveals a significant decline in public support for the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in the United States. This trend, coupled with widespread public confusion and knowledge gaps, poses a direct challenge to the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Declining Vaccine Confidence: A Threat to SDG 3

The erosion of public trust in vaccination directly undermines SDG Target 3.3, which aims to end the epidemics of communicable diseases by 2030. As measles cases surpass 1,600, the poll highlights a concerning trend that could reverse progress in public health.

Key Poll Findings on Vaccine Support

• Support for recommending the MMR vaccine for an eligible child dropped from 90% in November 2024 to 82% in August 2025.
• The percentage of adults who believe that vaccines approved for use in the country are safe has declined from a high of 79% (in 2021-2022) to 70%.
• A strong majority (81%) still correctly identifies vaccination as the best method to prevent measles, but this indicates a notable portion of the population is uncertain or misinformed.

Knowledge Gaps and the Role of Education (SDG 4)

The survey exposes significant deficits in public health literacy, highlighting a critical need for accessible and accurate information, a cornerstone of SDG 4 (Quality Education). Without effective educational outreach, misinformation can flourish, impeding progress on health-related SDGs.

Public Understanding of MMR Vaccine and Measles Risks

1. Vaccine Purpose: Over a quarter of respondents (27%) were unsure what diseases the MMR vaccine is designed to prevent.
2. Disease Complications: Only 22% of adults correctly knew that measles can cause encephalitis (brain swelling). A majority (60%) were not sure.
3. Mortality Rate: A vast majority of the public is unaware of the potential lethality of measles, with only 9% correctly identifying the mortality rate as approximately 1 in 1,000 infected children.

Persistent Misinformation

• Autism Link: While 65% of the public correctly states that vaccines do not cause autism, this figure has dropped from a range of 70% to 74% in prior years, indicating a resurgence of this disproven claim.
• Thimerosal Confusion: Over half of those surveyed (51%) are unsure about the link between the mercury-based preservative thimerosal and autism, despite scientific consensus of its safety and its removal from most childhood vaccines since 2001.

Institutional Trust and Leadership Challenges (SDG 16)

Effective and accountable institutions, as outlined in SDG 16, are fundamental to executing successful public health strategies. The poll reveals significant public confusion regarding the official stance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which weakens institutional trust and effectiveness.

Public Confusion Regarding Official Recommendations

There is considerable uncertainty regarding the position of the HHS Secretary on measles vaccination:

• 23% believe he recommends that children be vaccinated.
• 29% believe he does not recommend it.
• 48% are not sure.

This ambiguity from public health leadership contributes to a climate of uncertainty that is detrimental to vaccination campaigns and the overarching goal of ensuring good health and well-being for all citizens (SDG 3).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most prominent SDG addressed in the article. The entire text revolves around public health, specifically concerning the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The article discusses declining vaccination support, the spread of a preventable communicable disease (measles), public confusion about vaccine safety and efficacy, and the role of public health officials. These topics directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.3: End epidemics of communicable diseases

    The article directly addresses this target by highlighting the growing measles outbreak in the US, with cases surpassing 1,600. Measles is a preventable communicable disease, and the declining support for the MMR vaccine threatens efforts to control and end its spread.

  • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

    The article’s focus on the MMR vaccine connects directly to this target. The discussion about public trust, safety perceptions (“70% similarly says that vaccines approved for use in the country are safe, although that also represents a decline”), and support for vaccination (“Support among US adults for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has dropped from 90% to 82%”) are all critical components of achieving effective universal vaccine coverage.

  • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks

    The article illustrates a challenge to this target. The “mixed messages about the safety and efficacy of measles vaccination from those leading health agencies” and the resulting public confusion (“about half (48%) aren’t sure” about the HHS Secretary’s stance) undermine the management of a national health risk, which is the growing measles outbreak.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 3.3 (End epidemics of communicable diseases)

  • Incidence of measles

    The article explicitly states that “US measles cases surpass 1,600 and outbreaks across the country grow.” This number serves as a direct indicator of the prevalence of this communicable disease.

  • Mortality rate from measles

    The article mentions that “Only 9% correctly know it is about 1 in 1,000” children who die from measles and that “Three deaths have been confirmed in this year’s US outbreak.” This data point is a direct indicator of the disease’s impact.

• Indicators for Target 3.8 (Achieve universal health coverage and access to vaccines)

  • Vaccine coverage/support rate

    The poll finding that “Support among US adults for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has dropped from 90% to 82%” is a key indicator of public willingness to vaccinate, which is a precursor to actual vaccination coverage.

  • Public perception of vaccine safety

    The statistic that “70% similarly says that vaccines approved for use in the country are safe, although that also represents a decline from April 2021 to January 2022, when 76% to 79% said vaccines are safe” serves as an indicator of public trust in essential medicines.

• Indicators for Target 3.d (Management of national health risks)

  • Public knowledge and awareness of health risks

    The article provides several indicators of public confusion and lack of knowledge, which are crucial for risk management. These include: “More than 1 in 4 respondents (27%), however, say they are not sure what the MMR vaccine is made to prevent,” “Only 22% correctly know that some people experience encephalitis (brain swelling) when infected with measles,” and the fact that “65% correctly said it is false to claim that immunizations like the MMR vaccine cause autism, though that represents a drop from… 70% to 74%.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cidrap.umn.edu