The new school year is bringing more ambivalence and confusion over children's vaccines, as shifting policies under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and lingering skepticism lead more parents to opt out.
Why it matters: The U.S. this year experienced the worst measles outbreak in 30 years, a large uptick in whooping cough and the highest number of pediatric flu deaths in more than a decade.
The Trump administration is undermining — or has stopped collecting — key, once-nonpartisan data that kept the public informed about the state of the nation.
Why it matters: From Congress to city halls to boardrooms, critical decisions rely on accurate government data and public trust in that data. Without it, leaders risk making costly mistakes that could affect millions.
