Scientists’ Views on Reasons for Declining Vaccination Rates and Public Confusion

Section Overview

In this survey, we asked scientists various questions on vaccine controversy, trust in science, causes of vaccine hesitancy, preferred policy and regulatory approaches, risk perceptions, and scientists’ ethics and perceived communication roles.

Question

Do you believe each of the following are major, minor or not reasons for recent declines in vaccination coverage in the United States?

Finding

A majority of scientists responded that lack of public trust in the U.S. government (73%) and in pharmaceutical companies (54%) are major reasons for declining vaccination coverage.

Less than half of the scientists responded that lack of public trust in science (46%) and the U.S. healthcare system (42%) are major reasons for declining coverage.

Subgroup analyses of gender show that female scientists are more likely to believe that lack of public trust in pharmaceutical companies is a reason for recent declines in vaccination coverage (mean difference = 0.18, t=2.7, p<.01).

Question

Do you believe each of the following are major, minor or not reasons for public confusion about vaccines and vaccination?

Finding

Most scientists believe that deliberate dissemination of false information (87%) and lack of public understanding (70%) are the major sources of public confusion.

More than one-third (38%) also believe that conflicting recommendations from public health authorities are a major source of public confusion.

Respondents reported that publication of bad science (26%), insufficient disclosure about the uncertainties of scientific research (21%), and competing scientific research findings regarding vaccine effectiveness (17%) are major sources of public confusion.