KFF Finds 61% of U.S. Adults Waver on MMR-Autism Myth as Vaccine Falsehoods Persist
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 30
KFF Finds 61% of U.S. Adults Waver on MMR-Autism Myth as Vaccine Falsehoods Persist
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 30
Summary
61% of U.S. adults fell into a “malleable middle” on the false claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism, with 22% calling it probably true and 39% probably false.
KFF said fewer than 10% of respondents across four vaccine falsehoods called all of them definitely true, but uncertainty outweighed firm rejection or belief on claims about MMR, Covid-19 vaccines and mRNA altering DNA.
2,480 adults were surveyed from May 7-31, and KFF found belief in false claims was significantly higher among people without a trusted health care provider and among those relying on social media for health information.
The findings land as U.S. childhood vaccination coverage has declined since the Covid-19 pandemic and outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles have grown, even though KFF says the size of this uncertain middle has changed little.
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Vaccine Misinformation Surges Among Social Media and AI Users: Findings from the 2026 KFF Survey
Overview
A May 2026 KFF poll reveals that adults who frequently use social media and AI chatbots for health information are much more likely to believe common vaccine myths, such as the false link between the MMR vaccine and autism. This trend is especially strong among those exposed to health content on social media at least weekly, with belief in myths more than doubling compared to non-users. The report also highlights that lower-income and less-educated individuals tend to seek health advice on social media, while higher-income and college-educated groups prefer AI tools, showing how different populations are uniquely vulnerable to misinformation through their chosen digital platforms.