{"id":79829,"date":"2026-03-19T20:08:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T03:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=79829"},"modified":"2026-03-20T11:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:53:12","slug":"cdc-no-longer-a-reliable-source-for-vaccine-information-says-noted-pediatrician-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=79829","title":{"rendered":"Title: U.S. Vaccine Policy Shifts Stir Confusion and Concern Among Families and Health Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LAPost\/Los Angeles, March. 19, 2026<\/strong> \u2014 A series of recent changes in U.S. vaccine policy\u2014from COVID-19 guidance to routine childhood immunizations\u2014has sparked growing debate among medical professionals and parents alike. For many families, particularly within immigrant communities, questions around \u201cwhether to vaccinate, which vaccines are necessary, school requirements, and insurance coverage\u201d have become increasingly complex.<\/span><\/p>\n

Against a backdrop of political controversy and fragmented information, what was once a relatively clear vaccination pathway is now marked by uncertainty.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Expert Briefing Highlights Erosion of Public Trust<\/span><\/h3>\n

In response to mounting concerns, the American Community Media<\/span><\/span> (ACoM) hosted a virtual news briefing on Feb. 20 titled \u201cMapping the Vaccine Landscape.\u201d<\/em> The event featured Richard Besser<\/span><\/span>, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation<\/span><\/span> and former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/span> (CDC).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Besser, a pediatrician with over three decades of experience, delivered a stark assessment of the current landscape, citing declining public trust and controversial policy shifts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is absolutely heartbreaking,\u201d Besser said. \u201cI worked at the CDC for 13 years with dedicated employees. But I do not recommend looking to the CDC for information around vaccines.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Policy Upheaval and Advisory Committee Controversy<\/span><\/h3>\n

Much of the current uncertainty stems from changes to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices<\/span><\/span> (ACIP), whose recommendations traditionally guide CDC policy and influence insurance coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/span><\/span> dismissed all 17 ACIP members and appointed a new panel. Besser criticized the move, alleging that the new group includes individuals with anti-vaccine leanings and limited public health expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n

The committee\u2019s late-February meeting\u2014expected to address influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines\u2014was ultimately canceled, further deepening public concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Measles Resurgence Raises Alarm<\/span><\/h3>\n

Once declared eliminated in 2000, measles is now re-emerging in the United States amid declining vaccination rates. Data from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health<\/span><\/span> reports 1,099 measles cases in the first two months of 2026 alone, including a major outbreak in South Carolina.<\/span><\/p>\n

By comparison, 2,213 cases were recorded for all of 2025, with significant outbreaks in Texas, Utah, South Carolina, and Arizona.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besser warned that efforts to roll back school vaccination requirements could have serious consequences:<\/span>
\u201cIf you vaccinate your child, you no longer know whether they\u2019re sitting next to an unvaccinated child who could transmit a serious disease.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Legal Challenges Mount<\/span><\/h3>\n

Legal battles are also unfolding. The American Academy of Pediatrics<\/span><\/span> (AAP) filed a lawsuit on Jan. 13, arguing that recent CDC vaccine guidance bypassed established scientific review processes and was not evidence-based.<\/span><\/p>\n

AAP President Andrew D. Racine<\/span><\/span> stated that federal decisions have \u201cabandoned rigorous, transparent science,\u201d creating confusion, limiting access to life-saving vaccines, and weakening community protection.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lawsuit seeks to restore the immunization schedule to its April 15, 2025 version, prior to the ACIP overhaul. Several state attorneys general filed similar lawsuits in late February.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Diverging Recommendations Add to Confusion<\/span><\/h3>\n

Historically aligned with ACIP, AAP issued its own 2026 immunization schedule with notable differences. These include recommendations on Hepatitis A and B, COVID-19, RSV, and the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besser urged parents to rely on AAP guidance and consult trusted healthcare providers rather than political sources.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Key Scientific Concerns<\/span><\/h3>\n

Besser emphasized three core principles:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Science-based policymaking:<\/strong> Vaccine recommendations must be grounded in transparent and rigorous scientific review.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Risk reduction, not elimination:<\/strong> Vaccines significantly reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death\u2014even if they do not fully prevent infection.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Invisible success of public health:<\/strong> The benefits of vaccination are often unnoticed\u2014until declining rates lead to disease resurgence.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    He also noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, limited direct communication from the CDC allowed political narratives to frame evolving scientific guidance as inconsistency, eroding public trust.<\/span>
    \u201cChanging recommendations doesn\u2019t mean we were wrong\u2014it means we\u2019ve learned more,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Controversial Changes to Vaccine Strategy<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Recent policy discussions have included:<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Reclassifying some vaccines under \u201cshared decision-making\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Making polio and measles vaccines optional (proposed by ACIP Chair Kirk Milhoan<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Removing the universal recommendation for newborn Hepatitis B vaccination<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Besser strongly opposed the Hepatitis B change, calling the vaccine \u201cremarkable\u201d for its dual role in preventing infection and reducing liver cancer and cirrhosis.<\/span>
      \u201cIt is, in effect, an anti-cancer vaccine,\u201d he said, warning that reduced uptake could lead to increased cancer rates decades later.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Barriers for Immigrant Communities<\/span><\/h3>\n

      The briefing also highlighted disparities affecting immigrant and minority populations. Besser noted that increased immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/span><\/span> (ICE) has made some families hesitant to seek medical care.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Although federally qualified health centers do not typically collect or share immigration status, \u201cfear itself has become a barrier,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Additionally, declining access to primary care physicians\u2014particularly among underserved populations\u2014further complicates informed decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Implications for Chinese American Families<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Within Chinese American communities, vaccine attitudes are also shifting. While historically supportive of routine immunization, some parents are now taking a \u201cwait-and-see\u201d approach amid conflicting information and policy changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \u201cIt’s not that we oppose vaccines,\u201d one parent noted. \u201cWe just want to wait a bit longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

      Besser concluded with a clear message: amid policy shifts and public debate, the most reliable guidance still comes from trusted healthcare providers\u2014doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Outlook: Uncertainty Ahead<\/span><\/h3>\n

      As future ACIP meetings and seasonal vaccine recommendations remain in flux, the direction of U.S. vaccine policy continues to draw national attention. Whether public trust can be rebuilt will play a decisive role in shaping community health outcomes in the years ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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