Trust in U. S. Vaccines Drops as Debate Heats Up

A recent survey shows that only 60 % of Americans now trust the government’s advice on childhood vaccines, down from 71 % last June. The change follows a new schedule introduced in January by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which cut the number of universally recommended vaccines from about 17 to 11—mirroring Denmark’s approach.

Updated Vaccine Recommendations

• Rotavirus, Flu, COVID‑19, Hepatitis A & B, Meningococcal: now suggested only for high‑risk groups or after a joint decision by parents and doctors.
• Core Shots (Measles, Polio, Pertussis): remain routine.

Legal and Political Fallout

• A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily halted the changes, calling them “arbitrary and capricious” because they skipped the evidence‑based review usually performed by vaccine committees.
• The judge warned that ignoring established methods undermines the government’s credibility.
• Former President Trump praised the new schedule as “far more reasonable” and said it aligns the U.S. with other developed countries.

Public Opinion Snapshot

• One‑third of Americans identify with Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
• Nearly 40 % see no danger in drinking raw milk, a practice Kennedy promotes while criticizing federal regulators. The CDC warns that raw milk is 150 times more likely to cause foodborne illness than pasteurized milk.
• Only 36 % view measles and other communicable disease outbreaks as a moderate or large risk.

Controversial Claims

Kennedy has made several unverified claims about vaccines, such as alleging that the MMR shot contains “aborted fetus debris,” a claim debunked by scientific consensus. He also argues that vitamin A and nutrition alone can prevent measles, ignoring the proven effectiveness of vaccination.