For three decades, pediatrician John Snyder looked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the ultimate authority on treating young patients. Whether he needed data on a measles outbreak, travel recommendations for families heading abroad, or information to reassure worried parents about vaccine side effects, the CDC was his primary resource.
“The CDC used to be, worldwide, the most trusted source of information pertaining to public health and infectious disease,” Snyder said.
That confidence eroded quickly after Donald Trump returned to office and appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime skeptic of vaccines, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Following Kennedy’s confirmation, the CDC’s vaccine advisory board was dismissed and replaced with new appointees, some of whom held critical views of immunization.
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“It turned into a completely unreputable source of information,” Snyder said.
Changes to Federal Recommendations
The shift in leadership brought policy changes. On Jan. 5, the CDC removed several vaccines from the recommended schedule for all children. The agency dropped rotavirus, covid-19, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningococcal disease from the list. This decision contradicted guidance from major medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In March, medical groups sued, and a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to revert to the previous guidelines. The administration has appealed that decision. The legal back-and-forth has created a difficult environment for doctors and patients alike.
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“It creates a whole bunch of confusion in the public,” Snyder said. “And it’s very confusing even for healthcare providers.”
Doctors Step Into the Void
To manage this uncertainty, Snyder’s practice, Amherst Pediatrics, took a drastic step. The practice updated its website to explicitly state: “The CDC is no longer considered to be a reliable or legitimate source of information.”
“It’s shocking that we have to say that,” Snyder said.
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Instead of relying on federal guidance, the practice directs families to consult their own doctors, the state of Massachusetts, or nongovernmental medical organizations.
Exam Room Conversations
Confusion is evident in the exam room. Some parents, like Tenzin Dekey, continue to follow standard medical advice. During a recent visit, she agreed to four vaccines for her 1-year-old son, including MMR and chickenpox, without hesitation.
