Poll: Childhood disease outbreaks raise support for vaccines

Sometimes a crisis can spark a shift toward safety. A new nationwide poll from the University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, says that more parents express positive views about vaccines following the resurgence of some common childhood diseases in the past year. "Media coverage of outbreaks over the past year, accompanied by messages about vaccines for whooping cough and measles, may be swaying parents' opinions toward stronger beliefs in the positive aspects of vaccines," Dr. Matthew M. Davis, M.D., professor of Pediatrics and internal medicine in the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit at the University of Michigan Medical School said in a statement.