Poll: Parents’ support for vaccines grows

About one-third of U.S. parents see vaccines as more beneficial than they did a year ago, according to a new poll.

{mosads}The survey, from the University of Michigan, found that 34 percent of adults attribute more value to vaccines than they did a year ago. Sixty-one percent said their views stayed the same and 6 percent said vaccines are less beneficial than they had thought.

In addition, 35 percent of parents said they are more supportive of vaccine requirements in schools. Six percent are less supportive and 59 percent the same.

The growing support for vaccines follows an outbreak of measles centered at California’s Disneyland late last year that raised calls for everyone to be vaccinated. 

“Over the last year there have been high-profile news stories about outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough. These news reports may be influencing how parents perceive childhood vaccines across the country,” said Dr. Matthew Davis, the poll’s director. 

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) last week signed a strict new vaccination law eliminating exemptions for people citing personal beliefs. 

The issue briefly entered the presidential race in February after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said parents should have some choice as to whether they vaccinate their children. Christie later walked back those remarks, saying that children should be vaccinated with “no question.” 

The poll shows the measles could be having an effect on the debate. Forty percent of parents said they think the risk of measles for children is higher than it was a year ago.