Public Trust in CDC Declines as Partisanship Deepens Health Information Choices, New Poll Finds
WASHINGTON – A new poll reveals a important decline in public trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alongside a growing reliance on politically aligned sources for health information, particularly in the wake of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The findings underscore a deeply fragmented public health landscape where partisan beliefs increasingly dictate health decisions.
The poll, conducted recently, highlights a 24% drop in trust in the CDC’s vaccine information among Democrats over the past two years. This erosion of trust coincides with the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle CDC mandates.
“The problem is the mistrust is caused by these very people who are ostensibly leading us,” former Surgeon General Richard Carmona told NPR. Carmona,who served under President George W.Bush, is among six former surgeons general who recently warned in a Washington Post op-ed that Kennedy represents a “threat” to the nation’s health. He attributes the decline to a shift from scientific guidance to ideology within health agencies, warning of potential consequences like the resurgence of diseases such as measles and preventable deaths.
While trust in doctors remains historically high, the poll indicates a growing influence of party affiliation on information sources.Data shows that among Republicans, Kennedy is viewed as trustworthy as their own healthcare provider, according to pollster Liz Kirzinger. However, Kennedy’s overall job approval rating remains low, with 59% of respondents – primarily Democrats and independents – expressing disapproval.
The poll also reveals diverging reliance on professional medical groups. More than 80% of Democrats trust organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, compared to roughly half of Republicans.
Kirzinger notes that this trend signifies a broader shift. “As people are going to different sources of information to make decisions around their health care, we’re going to see partisanship playing a big role in what people decide to do,” she said.
