When Trust Dies, Diseases Return

Op-Ed by Olivia Beirne

In a triumph of public health, measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. A quarter century later, measles is back with a vengeance. For many, this disease was considered history, so when South Carolina recently reported a measles outbreak of 997 cases, largely among unvaccinated individuals (932 cases) and concentrated in children ages 5–17 (639 cases), many were surprised. How does a disease we defeated return? This new outbreak of measles isn’t an anomaly; it’s the result of fewer people getting vaccinated. The COVID-19 pandemic did more than spread a virus. It broke confidence in government and public health institutions. That erosion of trust now threatens routine immunizations, the very foundation of disease prevention. 

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is both safe and highly effective. When vaccination coverage exceeds 95%, community immunity protects infants, cancer patients, vulnerable populations, and others who can’t be vaccinated. The problem is that now this threshold is slipping below the necessary mark. According to the CDC, kindergartners’ MMR coverage fell from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% in 2024-2025, leaving approximately 286,000 children at risk. While a three-point drop might look small on paper, in epidemiological terms, it is huge. 

The decline in vaccination didn’t happen by chance. Public trust in U.S. public health agencies declined during and after COVID-19. Federal data show that trust in public health fell sharply between 2020 and 2024. According to a recent poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center, only about two-in-ten Americans say they trust the federal government to do what is right most of the time. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health guidance constantly shifted: mask recommendations changed, quarantine periods were constantly shortened and expanded, and vaccines were developed and made available at unprecedented speed. While scientific changes are common, especially in the early phases of understanding a disease, many Americans interpreted these updates as inconsistent and worrisome. 

Prominent figures, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have contributed to growing vaccine skepticism. During a Senate hearing, Kennedy criticized the CDC, calling it the most corrupt U.S. health agency and perhaps the most corrupt agency in the entire federal government. When public figures express doubt about long-established immunization practices and the credibility of health institutions, it increases public skepticism at a time when trust in public health is already fragile. 

The consequences are no longer just a rumor or possibility. The World Health Organization recently warned that we are risking the erosion of decades of progress, not because we lack safe and effective vaccines, nor because of a lack of innovation or commitment to vaccines, but because of misinformation. Once vaccination rates dip, outbreaks follow. Public health heavily relies on individuals working together to protect the entire community. When trust erodes, that protective shield weakens, and the most vulnerable populations pay the price. 

So what can we do? First, public health officials must rebuild trust by prioritizing transparency. Explain why public guidance changes, acknowledge uncertainty, and admit mistakes clearly. Openly communicating problems allows individuals to recognize human error and trust that organizations are working in people’s best interests. Trust grows when institutions communicate honestly. 

Second, we must resist turning vaccines into a cultural and political conversation. Immunization policy should be centered around evidence and science, not ideology. Leaders need to emphasize one simple truth: routine childhood vaccines save lives. 

Finally, citizens must take some responsibility. Before sharing alarming posts on social media and trusting the public opinion, it’s important to check credible sources. Understand that vaccination is not just a personal choice, but rather it is a civic act. 

Measles reemergence is not a medical mystery; it’s a trust crisis. If we fail to rebuild confidence in public health institutions, new outbreaks will continue to emerge. We must act now to save lives. 

Bio: Olivia Beirne, a senior double majoring in health policy and management and finance at Providence College, is a resident of Tappan, New York.