Parental Attitudes Towards the MMR Vaccine

Work Type

Poster

Abstract

Measles is a highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable disease. Herd immunity requires 95% vaccine coverage to prevent outbreaks. The US had achieved herd immunity in the late 1990s early 2000s but lost it again following the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases of measles continue to rise in the States. In 2025, there were 2,065 cases in the United States, which is the highest number of cases since 1992. Through the first four months of 2026, there have already been 1814 positive cases.

Most schools require incoming kindergarteners to have the MMR vaccine, but more parents every year are applying for nonmedical exemptions, despite having received the vaccine themselves. Vaccine hesitancy is the refusal or delay of vaccine reception despite adequate availability. Many reasons for vaccine hesitancy have been cited – such as safety concerns (MMR was falsely linked to autism), misinformation online, low perceived risk of measles, lack of knowledge about measles and the vaccine,, personal political beliefs, or distrust in the government, healthcare systems, or pharmaceutical companies are major recurring reasons.

Providers use many strategies to help combat this, such as maintaining trust with their patients, follow up/recall strategies, targeting high risk populations, and public health educational campaigns.

Research Question: Is education an effective strategy against MMR Vaccine hesitancy?

Publication Date

5-11-2026

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