A large majority of parents in the US view long-standing childhood vaccines, such as those for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and polio, as safe and important. However, investigators found that about 1 in 6 respondents said they had delayed or skipped at least 1 vaccine for children—other than flu and COVID-19. The survey from KFF and the Washington Post showed that parents are less confident in seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines.1
However, a large majority of parents in the US believe routine childhood vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and polio vaccine, are safe and important. | Image Credit: pingpao – stock.adobe.com
The poll was conducted from July 18 to August 4, 2025, and included 2716 parents and guardians of children under 18 years in the US. Children resided at the parents’/guardians’ household, and respondents conducted online and phone interviews. The Margin of sampling error included was plus or minus 2 percentage points, according to the survey methodology.2
In total, 90% and 88% of parents said the MMR and polio vaccines, respectively, were important for children in their community and 84% and 85%, respectively, said they were confident of the vaccines’ safety. However, seasonal vaccines were more divided, with 65% and 43% of parents saying the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, respectively, are safe for children. For importance, only 56% and 43%, respectively, believed these vaccines were important for children.1,3
Approximately 4% of parents skipped the MMR vaccine, and 5% delayed it; 4% skipped and 5% delayed the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine; 5% skipped and 4% delayed the hepatitis B vaccine; 4% skipped and delayed the chickenpox vaccine; and 3% skipped and 4% delayed the polio vaccine. Among those who skipped or delayed the vaccines, the most common reasons included concern about adverse effects, a lack of trust in vaccine safety, and belief that not all that are recommended are necessary. A vast majority (81%) of parents said that public schools should require measles and polio vaccines, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons, and 8% of parents said they requested an exemption from vaccine requirements for their child.1,3
Additionally, parents under the age of 35 years had greater concerns about vaccine safety compared with parents over 35 years, including 29% of younger parents saying vaccines do not go through enough safety testing before being recommended compared with 35% for those 35 to 49 years and 26% for those 50 years and older. Younger parents were also more likely to have skipped or delayed at least 1 childhood vaccine (19%) compared with parents 50 years and older (12%).3
For measles specifically, investigators also asked parents about false claims regarding vaccination and the disease in general. Many respondents were uncertain about what to believe, with 9% of parents believing that the MMR vaccines can cause autism spectrum disorder, rising to 16% for parents who have a child with autism. Approximately 48% of parents said they do not have enough information to make a determination.3
Approximately 14% of parents also said that they have a lot of confidence in government agencies such as the CDC and the FDA, with 29% having little confidence and 22% having none at all. Further, 26% of parents said that the CDC recommends too many vaccines, and 52% of parents said the CDC recommendations have the right amount of childhood vaccines.1,3
READ MORE: Immunization Resource Center
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