Trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine recommendations has significantly decreased among Americans, according to a new Ipsos/Axios poll. As of late 2025, only 60% of respondents trust federal vaccine guidance, down from 71% in June 2025. This erosion of confidence is particularly acute among Democrats (dropping from 81% to 66%), though trust has also waned among Republicans and Independents.
Shift in Public Preference
The poll reveals a growing preference for independent medical guidance. Roughly one-third of Americans now express greater confidence in vaccine recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) than from the CDC. This shift coincides with the AAP’s sharp criticism of the Trump administration’s alterations to U.S. vaccine policy. Only 8% of respondents favor guidance directly from the CDC, despite its historical role in setting national vaccine standards.
Policy Overhaul and Erosion of Trust
Since President Trump’s second term, federal health officials have rolled back recommendations for several critical vaccines, including those protecting against COVID-19, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, and rotavirus. More critically, the administration replaced members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with individuals sympathetic to vaccine skepticism, led by then-Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
“This loss of trust has created confusion for parents who, in the midst of deadly outbreaks, have had to navigate vaccine decisions without a clear source of trusted information.”
– Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiologist at Brown University
Rising Measles Concerns and Legal Challenges
The decline in CDC trust coincides with a resurgence of preventable diseases, notably measles. Public concern over measles has doubled since December 2024, rising from 18% to 36% of those polled. The country is approaching a loss of its measles-free status, with the highest infection rates seen since before the disease was eradicated in 2000. The AAP and other medical groups recently won a legal challenge against the administration’s vaccine policy overhaul, though the Department of Health and Human Services intends to contest the ruling.
The Impact of Conflicting Messaging
Experts argue that these policy shifts and resulting confusion endanger public health. The fragmentation of guidance from the CDC to independent medical groups creates uncertainty for parents during outbreaks. As Dr. Peter Chin-Hong of UCSF notes, a “chorus of opinions” undermines efforts to encourage vaccination. The poll underscores how political interference in public health erodes trust in federal agencies and complicates crucial public health decisions.
The decline in trust in the CDC’s vaccine recommendations is a direct consequence of policy changes and the dismantling of established scientific processes. This shift not only undermines public health but also demonstrates the fragility of institutional trust in an era of political interference. The lack of a clear, consistent message leaves the public vulnerable to misinformation and preventable outbreaks.
