A survey conducted by Pew Research in March 2023 revealed that 88% of Americans maintain confidence in the favorable balance of benefits over risks associated with the MMR vaccine, a sentiment that has remained stable since before the pandemic.
However, there has been a decline in support for mandatory school-based vaccine requirements. The survey indicates that 28% of respondents now believe that parents should have the freedom to opt out of vaccinating their children, even if it poses health risks to others. This figure marks an increase from 16% in October 2019. Notably, among Republicans, this stance has more than doubled, rising from 20% in 2019 to 42% in 2023.
The survey also highlighted lower support for the MMR vaccine among parents with young children. Specifically, around 65% of parents with children under the age of 5 expressed high confidence in the preventive benefits of the MMR vaccine, in contrast to 88% of all adults. Additionally, 39% of these parents perceived the risk of side effects as moderate to high, with half expressing concerns about the necessity of all childhood vaccines.
Tara Larson, a former ER nurse residing in Santa Monica, California, shared her journey of becoming cautious about childhood vaccination during her pregnancy last year. She delved into anti-vaccine documentaries, scrutinized vaccine safety inserts, and engaged with various social media platforms to become what she described as an “informed vaxxer,” distinguishing herself from being anti-vaccine.
Larson made the decision to postpone her son’s vaccinations until he reached 3 months of age, aiming to limit his initial vaccines to three essential ones in his first year and spacing them out to one shot per month. Despite encountering resistance from her initial pediatrician, Larson stood by her choice, eventually finding a holistic provider who supported her preferred schedule for a monthly fee of $250.
As her son approaches eligibility for the MMR vaccine at 8 months old, Larson remains undecided on whether to proceed with it. She contemplates the differing opinions on the appropriate timing of the vaccine, particularly in light of the measles resurgence. She acknowledged that her next step involves further research on this matter.
Dr. Casares, a pediatrician based in Oregon, emphasized that delaying vaccines, except in rare medical circumstances, lacks scientific justification and offers no discernible benefits. She attributed this trend to what she termed as “exposure bias,” where parents are inundated with negative vaccine information on social media while receiving minimal exposure to the advantages of vaccines or the severe risks posed by the diseases themselves.
In a country like the United States, where vaccination rates are relatively high, Casares highlighted the challenge of combating misinformation and ensuring awareness of the devastating consequences that can arise if vaccination rates decline.
–by Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times (TNS)
This article is part of The Times’ initiative on early childhood education, focusing on the educational growth and development of children in California from birth to age 5. For more details about the initiative and its supporters, visit latimes.com/earlyed.