Vaccine Trust Plummets as Measles Outbreaks Surge Across U.S.

Measles cases hit 35-year high as vaccine confidence drops, with outbreaks in Pennsylvania and other states raising alarms.

Editorial Desk

September 16, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows a sharp decline in public confidence in vaccines for serious childhood diseases like measles, fueling fears of a worsening outbreak that has already claimed multiple lives.

The survey, conducted over four days and completed on Monday, found that 76% of adults still see the MMR vaccine as safe for children, down from 84% in May 2020. The drop was most pronounced among Republicans, amid growing skepticism fueled by some party leaders who have downplayed the importance of immunizations.

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President Donald Trump’s executive order to cut the federal childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11 shots has further complicated the situation. Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine advocate who was appointed to a health advisory role, continues to challenge the standard vaccination protocol. Outbreaks are now spreading across several states, including Pennsylvania, where three measles-related deaths have been reported this year, marking the highest number of confirmed cases in 35 years.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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