I totally see your points (especially about vaccines for chicken pox or other non-fatal diseases), and I agree that empathy goes a long way to problem solving. But, denial is a powerful force. If one can't be educated with data, its tough to think what can educate them.

I think the frustration from the professionals' standpoint is that we live in a society where everyone gets their say, no matter how ill-founded. The CDC changed a few vaccine guidelines in response to parents' concerns a few years ago, with the caveat that the it was safe already, but these changes would make it "safer". Basically their point was that they were bending to political pressure to solve a political problem, when no actual science problem existed. The same thing happened with the removal of thimerosal. The public didn't react with gratitude; they reacted with "See, I told you they were lying. Why would they change if there wasn't a problem?!" This is what is begotten from compromise.

Everyone's opinions count, to be sure, but in our society we often confound opinion and belief. Not everyone's beliefs count. Many beliefs are down right stupid. Unfortunately, news organizations care about ad dollars, so they cater their coverage of these issues to reflect the highest ratings, not the most well supported position.