Since 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a routine vaccine schedule for children to protect against diseases like hepatitis B, measles, and influenza.

But a recent KFF report found vaccination rates among children under 24 months have declined since the pandemic, leaving more kids vulnerable to preventable illness.

Vaccine misinformation, changes in federal policies, and distrust in current public health guidance are some of the factors driving the decline in children’s vaccination rates. However, healthcare providers emphasize that routine childhood vaccines are safe and effective, and that they’re crucial in preventing disease spread for the entire population.

Vaccine Hesitancy Grows Among White and Asian Families

Data shows that Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic communities have the lowest vaccination rates. Historically, systemic racism and medical mistreatment in the healthcare system have made it difficult for people of color to get proper preventative care and access safe treatments, thereby also causing them to distrust public health guidelines, including vaccine recommendations.

Now, distrust is spreading beyond these racial minority groups and affecting the larger U.S. population as a whole. The most recent drop in children’s vaccinations is attributed to a steep decline in immunizations in Asian and white families, specifically.

For example, Asian and white children typically have the highest rates of receiving at least one dose of the MMR vaccine by age 24 months, but their rates have declined in recent years.

Conflicting Guidelines and Policy Changes Fuel Distrust

Lack of trust in public health is, in part, also being caused by conflicting information and drastic changes in guidelines from the current administration.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made significant changes in vaccine policies since his appointment in 2025. These include, but aren’t limited to, reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccinations, cutting funding for research of new mRNA vaccines, and suggesting against empirical evidence that childhood vaccines are increasing the rates of chronic illnesses.

“Trust can erode when guidance feels inconsistent or when science gets pulled into political conversations,” said Jen L. Brull, MD, FAAFP, a family physician and board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “When that happens, people may start to question recommendations they once followed, and that loss of confidence often shows up as lower vaccination rates and more vulnerability to preventable disease.”

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Misinformation on Social Media Sows Fear in Parents

While social media makes it easy to disseminate health information quickly, it also creates room for the public to absorb false claims.

Many families may feel hesitant to vaccinate their kids because of fear-mongering videos or conspiracy theories about vaccines online. That’s certainly true for one parent from Riverside, California.

“With my first son, I never gave [vaccinating] a second thought—it was simply something I knew I needed to do, and I didn’t question it. Now with social media being such a major source of information, I find myself guessing that decision with my younger son,” said Alisha Osornio, a mother of 11-year-old and 5-month-old boys. “Even though I understand the benefits of vaccinating, I still feel uncertain because I often come across posts from other parents who claim their child became ill after vaccines, which creates a sense of fear for me.”

How Vaccines Protect You and Your Community

Knowing the science behind immunizations may ease your concerns and help you make health decisions with more clarity.

Vaccines can train your immune system to recognize and fight harmful germs. Each vaccine has to go through several rounds of testing to ensure it is safe and effective.

After you get vaccinated, it can take several days for protection to build and you may experience mild side effects, like fatigue or soreness at the injection site. Using vaccines to reduce the risk of a disease will always feel more comfortable than treating an illness that a vaccine could’ve prevented.

“I tell patients that vaccination is preventive care, just like wearing a seatbelt, managing blood pressure, or getting regular screenings. It doesn’t eliminate every risk, but it significantly improves the odds of staying healthy,” Brull said.

While vaccines are a personal and individual decision, not getting vaccinated can increase the risk of health consequences for the entire general population. Without widespread vaccine adherence, illnesses that were once eradicated can make a return. The current resurgence of measles is just one example of this consequence.

“When you get vaccinated, you protect newborns who are too young for certain vaccines, people with weakened immune systems, and older adults who may not respond as strongly to infection. Vaccines are a way that we can look out for one another,” Brull said.

Efforts to Improve Vaccine Access and Confidence

As vaccination rates decline, health organizations, advocacy groups, and healthcare providers are working to improve access and uptake.

“There’s ongoing work in Congress to protect access to vaccines, keep them affordable, and ensure recommendations are guided by independent scientific review,” Brull said.

Healthcare providers also play an important role in vaccine decisions.

“On the ground, it starts with conversations and with physicians, nurses, and community leaders taking time to listen and respond with clear, factual information,” Brull said. “When people feel respected and heard, they’re more likely to engage in their care, including vaccination.”

If you have questions or encounter conflicting information about vaccines, a healthcare provider or pediatrician can help review the evidence and discuss your options. “We can walk through the evidence together and help you decide based on sound science, not speculation,” Brull said.