CDC Trust at Low Point After Vaccine Schedule Changes: KFF Poll

Public trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding vaccine information has reached a low point, according to a recent KFF Poll on Health Information and Trust. This decline comes in the wake of changes made by the Trump administration to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule.

Erosion of Confidence

Currently, fewer than half of Americans – 47% – report having at least “a fair amount” of trust in the CDC for reliable vaccine information. This figure is similar to levels recorded in September, but represents a drop of more than 10 percentage points since the beginning of the second Trump administration. The downward trend began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Did You Know? Six years ago, 85% of Americans trusted the CDC, including 90% of Republicans.

The decrease in trust is particularly pronounced among Democrats. Just over half (55%) of Democrats now trust the CDC on vaccines, down from 64% in September. While approximately 4 in 10 Republicans maintain some trust in the agency for vaccine information, this is significantly lower than the levels of trust reported in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Impact of Vaccine Schedule Changes

The KFF poll also examined public perception of the recent changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. Among those aware of the changes, more people anticipate a negative impact on children’s health than a positive one.

Approximately half of the public (51%), and a similar proportion of parents (52%), are aware of the federal government’s adjustments to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. Of this group, 54% believe the changes will negatively affect children’s health, compared to 26% who expect a positive impact. This sentiment is shared by parents who have heard about the changes, with 47% anticipating negative consequences and 29% expecting positive ones.

Expert Insight: The diverging views on the impact of these changes highlight a deepening polarization in attitudes toward public health recommendations, potentially stemming from broader debates surrounding science and government authority during recent years.

Democrats and independents largely foresee negative consequences for children’s health, while Republicans and those identifying with the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement generally anticipate improvements.

Confidence in Specific Vaccines

Despite the overall decline in trust, confidence remains relatively high in the safety of the MMR and polio vaccines, which continue to be universally recommended. At least three in four individuals across various political affiliations and parental status express confidence in these vaccines.

However, confidence is lower in the safety of vaccines that are no longer universally recommended – hepatitis B, flu, and COVID-19. Significant partisan divides are evident, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, with approximately 80% of Democrats expressing confidence compared to just 28% of Republicans.

Majorities of the public also express confidence in the safety of the hepatitis B (70%) and flu (65%) vaccines for children.
Just under half (48%) are confident in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to express confidence in the safety of flu (82% vs. 52%) and hepatitis B vaccines (85% vs. 61%).

The data is based on a survey of 1,426 U.S. Adults conducted between January 13-20, 2026, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current level of public trust in the CDC regarding vaccine information?

Fewer than half (47%) of Americans say they trust the CDC at least “a fair amount” to provide reliable vaccine information.

How have views on the recent changes to the childhood vaccine schedule varied across political groups?

Democrats and independents largely expect the changes to have a negative impact on children’s health, while Republicans and supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement largely expect it to improve children’s health.

Which vaccines continue to have high levels of public confidence in their safety?

Confidence remains high in the safety of the MMR and polio vaccines, with at least three in four individuals across various groups expressing confidence.

As trust in key public health institutions continues to shift, what role will individual healthcare providers play in shaping vaccine confidence moving forward?