One in six American parents has delayed or skipped some or all of the standard childhood vaccines, according to a new Washington Post poll released Monday.
Most of those parents cite concerns about potential side effects as well as a lack of confidence in federal health authorities to ensure their safety.
Some nine percent have opted out of administering their kids with polio or MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) shots, a trend public health experts warn risks triggering a widespread return of potentially fatal illnesses that routine childhood vaccination had largely wiped out.
In 2025, the United States experienced its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years, with more than 1,400 total confirmed cases and three deaths, including two young children.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/09/15/childhood-vaccines-parents-post-kff-poll/