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Massachusetts health officials expressed growing frustration Wednesday over what they describe as a wave of vaccine misinformation emanating from the federal government, complicating efforts to protect residents as respiratory virus season approaches.
During a meeting of the state’s Public Health Council, Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for Massachusetts’ Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, voiced concern about the current climate. “The mainstreaming of misinformation, anti-vax sentiment, science denial is challenging public health leaders every day,” Madoff said. “To see some of that coming from our once trusted allies in the federal government is really tragic.”
While not directly naming President Trump, officials pointed to policies implemented by his administration, particularly those championed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has publicly questioned vaccine safety, restructured a federal vaccine advisory panel, and reduced research funding for mRNA technology that powered COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Gregory Volturo, chair of emergency medicine at UMass Chan Medical School and a Public Health Council member, was more direct in his assessment: “Our federal government is just spewing out misinformation.”
Massachusetts has taken independent action in response. Last month, state health officials broke with federal guidance by issuing their own COVID vaccination recommendations, encouraging all adults and young children to get updated shots. This move came after what state officials described as a three-week delay in childhood COVID vaccine distribution due to slow decision-making at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Angela Fowler, the state’s associate medical director for vaccine-preventable diseases, emphasized that COVID vaccinations are particularly important for high-risk populations, including infants, toddlers, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, but benefit the general population as well. “I consider it part of self-care,” Fowler noted. “These vaccines can be a way of protecting yourself from getting ill.”
The situation reflects broader concerns in public health circles. Trump and Kennedy have both suggested links between routine pediatric vaccines and autism, contradicting decades of scientific evidence. Kennedy’s policies have also restricted COVID vaccine access in some states, though Massachusetts has implemented measures to ensure widespread availability.
Massachusetts traditionally boasts higher vaccination rates compared to other states, but officials note these numbers were already declining before the current administration took office. Public health experts fear this trend could accelerate, potentially leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Massachusetts’ public health commissioner, said federal officials “have created unnecessary skepticism” about vaccines. He assured that healthcare providers can now order vaccine doses, with deliveries expected “by the end of this week or early next week.”
The timing of these tensions is particularly concerning as the respiratory illness season approaches. Cases of COVID, influenza, and other respiratory infections typically surge during winter months when people spend more time indoors, facilitating viral transmission.
Beyond immediate health concerns, Goldstein, an infectious diseases specialist, expressed worry about long-term erosion of public trust. He fears that diminished confidence in government institutions could hamper response efforts during future public health emergencies.
“We have to continue to speak truth, and we need to push back on the disinformation and the misinformation,” Goldstein emphasized. “We need people to trust us.”
The conflict highlights the growing divide between state and federal approaches to public health policy, with Massachusetts positioning itself as a defender of science-based recommendations in the face of what its officials perceive as dangerous federal messaging around vaccines and preventive care.
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8 Comments
It’s troubling to see the federal government sowing confusion around vaccines, which are vital for protecting vulnerable populations. Doctors and local health authorities need to be the ones setting the public health agenda, not politicians with their own agenda.
Absolutely. Undermining the credibility of public health experts during a respiratory virus season is incredibly irresponsible. The government should be amplifying science-based guidance, not contradicting it.
Vaccine misinformation from federal officials is extremely concerning. Doctors and public health experts should be the trusted voices, not politicians with a history of spreading anti-science views. This puts lives at risk.
Vaccine misinformation from federal officials is extremely concerning and puts public health at risk. Doctors and public health experts need to be the trusted voices, not politicians with a history of spreading anti-science views.
This is a deeply troubling development. We need our government to be a reliable partner in public health, not a source of misinformation that sows doubt and confusion. Doctors must be empowered to lead on these critical issues.
I agree completely. Undermining expert guidance during a public health crisis is reckless and dangerous. Our leaders should be supporting the medical community, not undercutting them for political gain.
This is deeply concerning. Vaccine misinformation from federal officials undermines public health efforts and puts people at risk. Doctors should be empowered to provide evidence-based guidance, not contradicted by their own government.
I agree, spreading vaccine skepticism from within the government is reckless and dangerous. Public health experts should be the trusted sources, not political figures making unsupported claims.