Just when we think we’ve succeeded, it all comes roaring back. On Feb. 19, an Orange County infant returned from South Korea with measles. Days later, an unvaccinated child in Texas died from measles—the first case since 2015. Then, almost immediately following his appointment as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy canceled a meeting of the flu vaccine panel in charge of developing the flu shot for next season.
These situations highlight a growing issue: vaccine hesitancy and anti-science vaccine skepticism, which, if left unchecked, will result in scores of needless deaths.
Anti-vaccination attitudes are far from new and easy to find amid other dubious theories. Consider the debunked assertion that vaccines cause autism—a false claim that, since its emergence in the late 1990s, has been thoroughly discredited, yet somehow still pervades the conversations around vaccines. It’s a tragic reflection of American public health that the CDC is reportedly revisiting this debunked myth instead of directing its limited resources toward vital research into cancer and other useful endeavors.
This is merely the latest episode in a multi-year effort by Republicans to mainstream medical conspiracy theories. The first Trump administration fast-tracked the development of the COVID-19 vaccine before inexplicably turning to skepticism and politicizing critical public health issues. The past five years show a nine-fold increase in anti-vaccine state legislation, a sharp decline in Republican support of vaccines and a withdrawal from organizations like the WHO.
This has real consequences that will impact everyone. Trust in public health officials has declined, resulting in a drop in vaccination rates for children below the recommended 95% for MMR vaccines in 36 states. The decrease in vaccination rates threatens those who rely on herd immunity and are unable to receive the vaccine (either due to age or other health impairments), meaning innocent people could die due to reckless choices fueled by misinformation.
Some have argued that people should be free to choose whether to get a vaccination. This argument overlooks the communal necessity of vaccines, which have been crucial for eradicating serious diseases in the past. Personal liberties are not limitless in a society bound by a social contract that sometimes requires acts that benefit the common good.
And we can’t dismiss the fact that self-preservation and fear lie at the heart of vaccine skepticism. In an environment rife with misinformation on vaccines, a population with a healthy tendency to doubt authority and a limited understanding of the science behind them, the confusion about vaccine safety is clear. This is why having competent, well-educated leadership at the helm of public health initiatives is ever more crucial.
Unfortunately, the federal government is currently led by individuals who propagate dubious and absurd cures to serious problems. While Kennedy is free to forgo seed oil in his cooking, the lies and conspiracies he espouses are a danger to us all.
The trend of abandoning fact-checking misinformation on social media is also a serious problem. A 2024 Columbia University study found that spreading vaccine misinformation via social media has surpassed the reach of fact-checking efforts. While this underscores the responsibility of all levels of government to provide accurate, science-based information about public health, there are other steps that can be taken to combat vaccine distrust.
Trusted community organizations should lead community dialogue and vaccine education for those historically mistreated or misled by government agencies, providers and schools. When adequately funded by state and federal agencies, school-based community vaccination centers can also help improve accessibility.
By combining evidence-based public health leadership that combats misinformation and enhanced access to vaccinations for those in need, we can start reversing this concerning downturn in overall public health. These actions can pave the way for a healthier future for Americans—and that begins with halting the decline.
