Childhood vaccinations: One in six Americans hesitate or refuse, according to a survey

Due to fear of side effects and a lack of trust in health authorities, one in six parents surveyed said they had avoided or postponed vaccinating their children. This comes at a time when Donald Trump's Health Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., is sowing doubts about the safety of these vaccines , relaying false information about them, including a supposed link between autism and the measles vaccine.

After dismissing renowned experts from a vaccine panel in June, the minister announced Monday that he had appointed several scientists, some of whom are skeptical of the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination, to replace them. They will review national recommendations for several vaccines, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, at the end of the week.

In the United States, some vaccines, such as MMR, are mandatory for school enrollment, while others are strongly recommended. However, in many U.S. states, parents can cite a reason other than a medical contraindication, such as a religious one, to qualify for an exemption.