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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.
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: