Johns Hopkins Study Links New Right Media Consumption to Doubled Rates of Vaccine Hesitancy in Adults

Johns Hopkins research finds adults following conservative digital news are twice as likely to doubt vaccines, contributing to 2025 measles outbreaks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 4:29 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Media Preferences and the Resurgence of Preventable Disease

The landscape of public health in the United States is increasingly dictated by the digital silos in which citizens consume information. A recent study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering indicates that the choice of news platforms is a primary predictor of attitudes toward the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. As measles cases hit a post-eradication peak of over 2,000 reports across 43 states in 2025, researchers found that the information ecosystem plays a decisive role in whether individuals accept or reject scientific consensus. The data suggests that specific media habits are not merely reflections of existing beliefs but active components in the formation of health-related hesitancy.

Quantifying the Influence of New Right Digital Outlets

The research specifically highlights the impact of "new right" media, categorized as digital news organizations with a strong conservative bias, such as Newsmax, Breitbart, and Zero Hedge. According to the study, regular consumers of these outlets are more than twice as likely to express vaccine hesitancy compared to those who do not engage with such content. This group of hesitant adults often bypasses traditional authoritative figures, such as primary care physicians, in favor of alternative health newsletters and online influencers. Lauren Gardner, the study's author, noted that the specific channels through which people engage online have a quantifiable impact on their willingness to participate in public health initiatives.

Demographic Profiles of the Vaccine Hesitant Population

The survey of 2,970 adults conducted in August 2025 provides a detailed demographic breakdown of those skeptical of the MMR vaccine. Hesitant individuals are significantly younger, with 62% falling under the age of 44, and a majority identifying as parents. Statistically, this group is more likely to represent racial minorities, individuals with lower income levels, and those with less formal education. Politically, the divide is stark: 39% of hesitant respondents identify as Republicans and 33% as Independents. Furthermore, 43% of hesitant adults identified with the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, compared to only 27% among those who are non-hesitant.