Almost half of U.S. parents erroneously believe vaccine spacing is healthier

Nearly half of U.S. parents mistakenly believe children are healthier when vaccines are spaced out and not given in one clinical visit, a KFF Tracking Poll found. In addition, the poll found partisan differences in parents’ views, with Republican and Republican-leaning parents more likely to support spacing out childhood vaccines and Democratic and Democratic-leaning parents more likely to believe there is not strong evidence to support vaccine spacing. The poll also found confidence in several well-established childhood vaccines ─ including the measles, mumps and rubella shot ─ remains high. The nationally representative survey consisted of 1,328 adults who were interviewed by telephone and online Sept. 16-23. Meanwhile, U.S. measles cases surpassed 4,400, greatly exceeding last year’s totals, with Pennsylvania reporting 1,260 confirmed cases. (KFF Tracking Poll article, 10/20/26)