CDC Vaccination Data Frozen Amid Anti-Vaccine Advocacy

Nearly half of CDC's public health databases have stopped receiving updates, with vaccination data hit the hardest

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:07pm

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A new study has found that nearly half of the databases that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were previously updating on a monthly basis have been frozen without notice or explanation. The researchers discovered that the majority of the frozen databases, 87%, contained vaccination data, including information on influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. This development is concerning given that the current Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is a prominent anti-vaccine advocate.

Why it matters

The freezing of these CDC databases, particularly those related to vaccination, could have serious public health implications. Without up-to-date data on vaccine uptake and disease burden, public health officials will be hindered in their ability to monitor trends, identify potential outbreaks, and make informed decisions about vaccination policies and programs. This could undermine efforts to maintain high vaccination rates and protect vulnerable populations.

The details

The study, led by researchers from Boston University and Vanderbilt University, examined the status of all 82 CDC databases that were previously receiving monthly updates. They found that only 44 of these databases were still being regularly updated as of October 2025, while 38 (46%) had their updates paused without any public notice or explanation. The researchers noted that the databases most affected by the freezes were those related to vaccination data, including information on influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines.

  • The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in early 2026.
  • The researchers checked on the status of the databases again in December 2025, finding that only one of the 38 frozen databases had been updated, leaving 37 still entirely out of date.

The players

Janet Freilich

A law expert at Boston University and a co-author of the study.

Jeremy Jacobs

A medical professor at Vanderbilt University and a co-author of the study.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is a fervent anti-vaccine advocate.

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What they’re saying

“Given the vaccine skepticism of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, it is concerning that nearly 90 percent of the paused databases related to vaccination surveillance, with additional gaps in respiratory disease monitoring.”

— Janet Freilich, Jeremy Jacobs, and co-authors, Researchers (Annals of Internal Medicine)

What’s next

The researchers have called for immediate action to restore the frozen CDC databases, particularly those related to vaccination data, in order to ensure that public health officials have access to the information they need to monitor and respond to emerging health threats.

The takeaway

The freezing of nearly half of the CDC's public health databases, with a disproportionate impact on vaccination data, raises serious concerns about the potential for political interference in public health efforts. This development underscores the importance of maintaining the independence and integrity of government health agencies, even in the face of ideological opposition to evidence-based practices.