A recent poll found that approximately 25 percent of Americans think that vaccines are not safe, and more than one in five consumers think that these preventative treatments are a cause of autism - a link which has never been proven.

The Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll also found that nearly 27 percent were worried about the safety of vaccines. Of this group, 30 percent belonged to households with children under 18 years of age, while fewer than 20 percent from those were classified as senior citizens.

"Ironically, these survey results are a testament to the effectiveness of vaccines: older people remember what illnesses like polio did to cripple and kill patients, but the younger generation has never seen someone with polio," said Dr. Raymond Fabius, chief medical officer at the healthcare business of Thomson Reuters.

Consumers who want to make sure their child is properly vaccinated should be sure their health insurance coverage is sufficient. If not, it may be a good idea to check online to compare health insurance rates and get a quote that works for the whole family.