Survey Finds Individuals Lacking a Reliable Health Care Provider Are More Prone to Accept Vaccine Misconceptions, Similar to Those Frequently Using Social Media or AI for Health Guidance
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By
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kffrainl
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June 30, 2026
Objective:
To assess the relationship between having a trusted health care provider and beliefs in vaccine myths, as well as the impact of social media and AI usage on these beliefs.
Approach:
- Survey Methodology: Conducted by KFF, the survey included 2,480 U.S. adults and was carried out online and by telephone from May 7-31, 2026.
- Key Findings:
- : Individuals without a trusted health care provider are more likely to believe vaccine myths.
- : 39% of those without a trusted provider believe MMR vaccines cause autism, compared to 24% with a trusted provider.
- : 37% of frequent social media users and 35% of AI users endorse the autism myth, compared to 16% and 20% of non-users, respectively.
- : Parents who delay or skip vaccines are more likely to believe false claims about vaccines compared to those who are up to date.
Key Findings:
- Individuals without a trusted health care provider are more likely to believe vaccine myths.
- 39% of those without a trusted provider believe MMR vaccines cause autism, compared to 24% with a trusted provider.
- 37% of frequent social media users and 35% of AI users endorse the autism myth, compared to 16% and 20% of non-users, respectively.
- Parents who delay or skip vaccines are more likely to believe false claims about vaccines compared to those who are up to date.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that a lack of a trusted health care provider may contribute to the acceptance of vaccine misinformation. This relationship highlights the importance of having reliable sources of health information, as individuals who do not have a trusted provider may turn to less credible sources, such as social media and AI, which can perpetuate misconceptions about vaccines.
Limitations:
- The survey's margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points for the full sample.
- Results based on subgroups may have a higher margin of error. -
Conclusion:
The survey underscores the critical role that trusted health care providers play in combating vaccine misinformation. By fostering relationships between patients and reliable health professionals, it may be possible to reduce the prevalence of vaccine myths and improve public health outcomes. Addressing the influence of social media and AI in health guidance is also essential in promoting accurate vaccine information.
Sources:
Based on findings from:
Poll: People Without a Trusted Health Care Provider Are More Likely to Endorse Vaccine Myths, As Are Those Who Often Use Social Media or AI for Health Information
kffrainl. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2026.
https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/poll-people-without-a-trusted-health-care-provider-are-more-likely-to-endorse-vaccine-myths-as-are-those-who-often-use-social-media-or-ai-for-health-information/
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
