A pediatric surgeon criticizes the influence of the Make America Healthy Again movement, led by RFK Jr., which promotes skepticism towards medical professionals and scientific research, leading to increased parental mistrust, refusal of necessary medical treatments for children, and the spread of misinformation that undermines public health efforts.
Vaccine skepticism among mothers, particularly white and middle-class, is rooted in their negative experiences with the U.S. healthcare system, including instances of medical harm and mistreatment from childhood through childbirth. These experiences have led to widespread mistrust of public health entities and pharmaceutical companies, prompting mothers to conduct their own research and reject recommended vaccines. High rates of medical error and maternal deaths contribute to a growing population of Americans who believe that the U.S. healthcare system does more harm than good, leading to rational skepticism and distrust.