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Study Finds Association Between Media Sources and MMR Vaccine Hesitancy

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Study Links "New Right" Media Consumption to MMR Vaccine Hesitancy

A study conducted by Johns Hopkins University has identified a statistical association between consumption of "new right" media outlets and hesitancy toward the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The research, published in the journal Vaccine, surveyed 2,970 U.S. adults in August 2025.

Key Findings

Adults who regularly engage with "new right" media outlets—such as Breitbart, Newsmax, and Zero Hedge—were more than twice as likely to express hesitancy about the MMR vaccine compared to those who do not use such outlets.

"Our findings suggest that when everyone is already engaging online, where and how they choose to do so matters." — Lead author Lauren Gardner

Researchers also reported a correlation between vaccine attitudes and sources of health information:

  • Vaccine-hesitant adults were more likely to rely on non-authoritative sources, including alternative health providers, social media health influencers, and newsletters such as Children's Health Defense.
  • Non-hesitant adults were less likely to engage with right-leaning new media channels or non-authoritative health sources.
  • Reliance on physicians for health information was associated with lower vaccine hesitancy.

Demographics

Of the respondents, 83% believed the benefits of the MMR vaccine outweigh the risks, while approximately one in six expressed hesitancy. The study characterized hesitant adults as more likely to be:

  • Under 44 years of age (62%)
  • Parents
  • Members of racial minority groups
  • Lower-income
  • Less educated
  • Politically conservative

Regarding political affiliation, 39% of hesitant adults identified as Republican, 33% as Independent, and 43% identified with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Among non-hesitant adults, 27% identified with the MAHA movement.

"With public health becoming increasingly polarized, it's critical to understand people's attitudes about vaccines." — Co-author Amelia Jamison

Background and Context

In 2025, the United States reported over 2,000 measles cases across 43 states—the highest number since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. Nearly all cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals.

Childhood MMR vaccination coverage has declined to 93%, below the 95% herd immunity threshold required to prevent widespread outbreaks.

Funding

The study was supported by the Merck KGaA Future Insight Prize.