Public trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding vaccine information has fallen to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a new KFF poll released February 12, 2026. Just 47% of Americans now express at least “a fair amount” of trust in the CDC for reliable vaccine information, a decline of more than 10 percentage points since the beginning of the second Trump administration.
The poll, part of KFF’s new Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll, reveals a particularly sharp drop in confidence among Democrats. Currently, 55% of Democrats trust the CDC for vaccine information, down from 64% in September. Trust among Republicans remains low, with approximately 40% reporting trust in the agency – a figure roughly half that expressed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decline in public confidence coincides with recent changes to the CDC’s recommended childhood vaccine schedule, implemented following the appointment of new federal committee advisors by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to the KFF poll, 54% of those aware of the schedule changes believe they will have a negative impact on children’s health.
KFF has launched a new interactive dashboard to track public attitudes toward health information sources and vaccines. The dashboard includes historical polling data, demographic breakdowns, and an analysis of exposure to and belief in false or unproven health claims. The data reveals a significant “malleable middle” – a large segment of the population expressing uncertainty about the validity of various health claims.
Adding to the challenges facing public health officials, a new meta-analysis published in The Lancet reaffirmed that there is no link between prenatal acetaminophen (Tylenol) use and an increased risk of autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the findings are complicated by ongoing, unsubstantiated warnings from federal officials. President Trump issued a warning against Tylenol use during pregnancy on January 5, and an HHS spokesperson subsequently questioned the conclusions of The Lancet study, stating that “many experts have expressed concern” about a potential link.
The KFF poll, conducted shortly after the Trump administration’s initial warning about acetaminophen, found that 77% of the public had heard the unproven claim that taking Tylenol during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism. While only 4% believed the claim was “definitely true,” 30% considered it “probably true,” and views varied significantly by political affiliation, with 56% of Republicans expressing some level of belief in the claim.
According to Pew Research, Americans generally report greater confidence in scientists (77%) than in elected officials (27%) to act in the public’s best interest. However, KFF polling indicates that trust in health information sources varies by political affiliation, with Republicans more likely to trust President Trump and Secretary Kennedy Jr. Than Democrats or independents. Doctors and healthcare providers remain the most trusted sources of health information across all political groups.
