Skip to content
THE TIMES USA
Menu
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • LIFESTYLE
  • NATIONAL NEWS
  • BUSINESS
  • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW AUDIOS
Menu

Almost Half of Americans Doubt Safety of Vaccines

Posted on July 7, 2019June 25, 2019 by admin

A recent online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association, revealed that more than two in five American adults (45%) say something has caused them to doubt vaccine safety.

The spread of negative attitudes towards vaccines is a phenomenon deeply rooted in human psychology and amplified by social media, according to perinatal psychiatrist Rachel Shmuts, DO.

“From an evolutionary perspective, humans are primed to pay attention to threats or negative information,” she says. “So it makes sense that people hold onto fears that vaccines are harmful, especially when they believe their children are in danger.”

She believes it is possible that, since vaccines have been so effective in eradicating disease, people may have more fear of possible vaccine side effects than the actual diseases vaccines prevent.

“For some, it really might be that vaccines are viewed as the more salient threat,” says Dr. Shmuts.

Although 55% of Americans don’t doubt vaccine safety, 45% noted at least one source that caused doubts about the safety of vaccination. The top three doubt-causing sources were online articles (16%), past secrets/wrongdoing by the pharmaceutical industry (16%) and information from medical experts (12%).i

No more room for doubt
The survey also asked Americans to choose a statement that best represented their feelings about vaccine safety and efficacy. While the vast majority (82%) chose in favor of vaccines, 8% selected responses expressing serious doubt. An additional 9% said they were unsure.ii

Physicians say those small margins can cause significant damage to public health if the doubts result in more unvaccinated people.

“Some diseases, like measles, require as much as 95% of the population to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity,” says osteopathic family physician Paul Ehrmann, DO. “Our practice considers itself a steward of public health, so we do not take new patients who refuse to vaccinate.”

Dr. Ehrmann explains that herd immunity is essential to maintain, because some people cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions including allergies, illness, or a weakened immune system. Keeping the rest of the population vaccinated protects those who are vulnerable.

“People know that a lot of practices won’t accept patients who don’t vaccinate, so when they find one that will, they spread the word to their community that it’s a safe place. Whether intentional or not, those doctors are often seen as endorsing anti-vaxxer beliefs,” Dr. Ehrmann said.

Winning patients back
While social media has helped spread misinformation about vaccines, it has not been effective for countering those claims, even with scientific research, according to Dr. Shmuts.

She explains that confirmation bias—the tendency to trust new information that bolsters existing beliefs and discredit information that challenges those beliefs—makes it difficult to convince someone vaccines are safe, effective and necessary once they believe they are not.

“The number of people who believe vaccines are dangerous and refuse to get them is still relatively small. However, online support groups seem to solidify their beliefs, making them less susceptible to influence from their neighbors and real-world communities,” says Dr. Shmuts.

Dr. Ehrmann agrees, adding that arguing or being judgmental with patients only pushes them further into communities that share their beliefs. Instead, he thinks policy changes are likely the most effective means to change behaviors, if not hearts and minds.

His home state of Michigan discontinued public education for vaccines in the mid-2000s and allows for medical, religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccination, making the state accommodating to anti-vaxxers. As recent as 2015, Michigan ranked 44th in the country for the number of vaccinated children 19 months to 35 months.

However, in 2017 the state, with other partners, launched a public information campaign that has significantly improved vaccination rates across demographics.

“Beliefs are hard to change especially when they’re based in fear,” says Dr. Ehrmann. “But, being responsible for our patients’ health and the public’s health, we can’t afford to give in to those fears. We must insist on evidence-based medicine.”

You Might Also Like...

  • Data Privacy's Importance to Americans

    By the Price of Business Show, Hosted by Kevin Price.  The Price of Business is a media…

  • Americans Divided by Parties on Religious and Ethnicity Issues

    A new PRRI/The Atlantic survey of American attitudes about the health of our nation's democratic institutions reveals…

  • How to Recognize Self-Doubt Before it Makes You Fail

    By Daphne Michaels, Special for The Times USA Here is some advice that may save…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

VIDEO: This Week’s Best of our Network

https://www.thetimesusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-United-States-Ten-Strongest-Allies_-A-Historical-Perspective.mp4

GDPR Compliance

USABR does not collect data on its visitors.  For more information visit: https://www.usabusinessradio.com/contact-us/

Contact

Contact articles@usabusinessradio.net for more information on articles on this site. BMuyco@usabusinessradio.net for all other information.

Recent Articles

  • Absolutely Insist on Enjoying Life
  • How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI
  • The Importance of the Body Mass Index [BMI]
  • Beth Warford’s Commentary Feature on the Price of Business Digital Network
  • Cool eBikes With a So Cal Vibe

The Secret to Making New Rich Books Work

The Secret to Making New Rich Books Work

Also in TTUSA

  • Are You Owner #1 or Owner #2?
  • Details on Nancy Pelosi’s $200k Taxpayer Funded Trip to Italy and the Ukraine
  • Digital 2020 Marketing
  • How the US Media’s Agenda Impacts the World Around Us
  • Will Success Growing Pains Make You Fail?

RSS The Daily Blaze

  • Leading Tech Legal Authority on Biden Administration and Google
  • Fiduciary Company for Swiss Companies
  • Former White House Advisor Explains Why Economic Freedom Works
  • Changing Your Personality To Get Everything You Want In Life
  • Business take a Sudden Turn Against the “Woke Craze”

The Leader in Business News

The Leader in Business News

RSS USA Business Radio

  • How Small Businesses Can Compete With Large Ones
  • The Purification of Failure
  • Unmanned Surface Vehicles Become Oldest and Newest Fad in Warfare
  • Very Simple Solution to Houston’s Housing Problems
  • How To Deal With a Healthcare Insurers Denial; the Price of Doing Nothing

RSS USA Daily Times

  • Murder Suspect Accidentally Released from Jail in Indiana
  • How Will You Enjoy Forest Recreation This Year?
  • Why Chasing the Best Deal Is Very Expensive
  • Cynthia Appiah’s Commentary Feature on the Price of Business Digital Network
  • ARC Churches Shares Kelley Family Church Launch Story

RSS USA Daily Chronicles.

  • How to Earn Passive Income with PAMM Forex Brokers
  • Exclusive! Nutrition Coach on Breaking Free From Eating Disorders
  • The Importance of Monitoring Blood Sugar
  • Why Does a Well Trained Dog Live Longer?
  • Dare To Dream. Dare To Act. How You Can Create an Innovative Environment

RSS Price of Business

  • Murder Suspect Accidentally Released from Jail in Indiana
  • The Neuroscience of Hypnotherapy in Coaching
  • How Small Businesses Can Compete With Large Ones
  • Leading Tech Legal Authority on Biden Administration and Google
  • Embracing the Enlightened Workplace

RSS US Daily Review

  • Post Reporter on the Implications of UAW Strike
  • Embracing the Enlightened Workplace
  • 7 Unique Ways for Students To Get Some Extra Income
  • Retired General on Why North Korean Dictators Russia Visit Matters
  • Speaker McCarthy Declares a Formal Impeachment Inquiry on President Biden

PoB Digital Network

US Daily Review

USA Business Radio

USA Daily Chronicles

USA Daily Times

The Daily Blaze

The Times USA

Price of Business

© 2023 THE TIMES USA | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme