Deep rifts in public trust in government officials and health agencies are shown by a recent poll as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets ready for his confirmation hearings as the nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Public opinion is being shaped by political affiliations and vaccine skepticism, underscoring a rising crisis of confidence.
A recent survey reveals a sharp gulf in public confidence in health programs as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets ready to testify before Congress for confirmation as the director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Less than half of American citizens believe that Presidents Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy will make wise health recommendations, according to the KFF survey. Regarding opinions on vaccines, a topic of continuous controversy surrounding Kennedy’s nomination, the difference is especially noticeable.
Trust in health agencies declining
The survey found out that trust among major government health institutions, the FDA, CDC, and HHS, was steadily decreasing over the period after the COVID-19 pandemic. Only about 61% of Americans trust the CDC, and this is relatively lower than its 66% mid-2023 level. Public trust among the FDA and state health officials has also dwindled.
These opinions involve partisan lines to a greater degree. There are twice the odds that the Democratic respondents are confident in the CDC, at an 85 percent level as against 39 percent of Republicans who support it. On the other hand, Republican respondents by nearly 80% trust both Trump and Kennedy who are involved with health policy implementation, with half of that value for Democratic voters.
Growing Vaccine Skepticism
Kennedy’s controversial stance on vaccines has raised concerns among public health experts. A growing number of Republican parents are delaying or skipping vaccines for their children, with 26% now reporting vaccine hesitancy, up from 13% in 2023. The spread of misinformation linking vaccines to autism has contributed to the shift, despite overwhelming scientific evidence disproving the claim.
Ahead of Kennedy’s hearings, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has pushed back, highlighting the importance of vaccines in keeping children healthy. “Vaccines allow children to grow up healthy and thrive,” said Dr. Susan J. Kressly, AAP president, urging lawmakers to consider the impact of their decisions on public health.
With Kennedy’s confirmation hearings set to begin, the debate over public health leadership, trust, and vaccine policy is likely to intensify, further cementing the divide among Americans.
