A new  Harris Interactive poll shows a majority of American parents believe they,  rather than the government, should have the final say in which vaccines their  children receive. 

The  poll, commissioned by the Center for Personal Rights, queried a representative  sample of American parents about vaccination. The survey was conducted online in  May within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Center for  Personal Rights, Inc., among 1,144 parents of children age 17 years or younger.

Poll  results indicate a majority of American parents, 52%, believe that  "parents should have the right to decide which vaccines their children  receive without government mandates."

Such  results may stem from recent media reports, which have since been discredited,  that vaccines do more harm than good, may cause autism, or are no longer  necessary for certain diseases.

“In one  warning after another, vaccine opponents often exaggerate or even make up  immunization risks, with no scientific evidence to support their claims,”  according to a statement on the American Academy of Pediatrics website. “They  may imply that vaccines aren’t effective. At the same time, they downplay or  don’t discuss the serious diseases that vaccines can eliminate or reduce in  frequency. No wonder some parents are left feeling anxious and, in some cases,  keep their youngster unvaccinated at the risk of their child’s health.”

But  those assurances may be falling on deaf ears. Other results from the Center for  Personal Rights, Inc. research include:

Fifty-four  percent of parents are "concerned that the pharmaceutical industry has  undue influence over government vaccine mandates." 

Fifty-four  percent agree that "the government should fund an independent scientific  study of fully vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals to assess long-term  health outcomes." 

Forty-eight  percent of parents are "concerned about serious adverse effects of  vaccines." This poll answer on adverse events is slightly less than the  number found in a recent study published in Pediatrics magazine that found that  54% of parents are concerned about serious adverse effects.

Forty-two  percent of parents agree that "all children should receive 69 doses of 16  vaccines before age 18, as recommended by the federal government."

Older  parents, aged 35 and above (57%), are significantly more likely than their  younger peers (47%) to agree that the pharmaceutical industry has undue  influence on vaccine mandates. 

News

A new Harris Interactive poll shows a majority of American parents believe they, rather than the government, should have the final say in which vaccines their children receive.