Opposition to routine childhood vaccines becomes more mainstream

This rhetoric carries an elevated risk given recent research showing that a “small but significant percentage” of Americans oppose the recommended childhood immunization schedule, and that number may be growing. Prebunking talking points may emphasize that vaccines are one of history’s most important medical innovations. Diseases that once killed and injured millions of infants and children have been largely wiped out thanks to vaccines. Messaging may also explain that the ability to even consider forgoing routine vaccinations against deadly and debilitating diseases like polio and rubella is because vaccines have so dramatically reduced disease spread. When vaccines work, the success is invisible.

Fact-Checking Source(s): PAHO, Boost Oregon