health
February 6, 2026
RFK Jr. vaccine changes have hurt trust, with even some Republicans wary: Poll
The Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the childhood vaccine schedule as part of its Make America Healthy Again agenda have not helped federal health agencies regain public trust.
TL;DR
- The Trump administration's reduction of the childhood vaccine schedule has not improved public trust in federal health agencies.
- A KFF poll shows 53% of voters trust federal health agencies less due to the changes, with 25% of Republicans reporting decreased trust.
- Only about half of those polled were aware of the vaccine schedule changes, and the majority of those anticipated harm to children.
- The CDC reduced routine childhood vaccines from 17 to 11, dropping recommendations for RSV, seasonal flu, and newborn Hepatitis B.
- Critics suggest the changes align with a theory promoted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others in the administration linking childhood vaccines to autism.
- Trust in the CDC has significantly declined since March 2020, with confidence levels dropping from 85% to 47% as of January.
- Parents primarily trust pediatricians for vaccine decisions, according to a separate KFF poll.
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