almost half Federal Health Surveillance Database Regular updates were stopped or delayed last year. potentially dire consequences for public healthaccording to the researchers.
a Newly released audit Of approximately 1,400 public records, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention It was revealed that 38 of the agency’s 82 databases, which are typically updated monthly, had been suspended for unknown reasons since last spring.
More than a third of the 38 suspended databases had been down for more than six months, and only one had been updated by Dec. 2, researchers from Vanderbilt University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Boston University School of Law found.
Almost 90% of database pauses reported Vaccination topicswhile others cover respiratory disease and death from drug overdose.
Pausing these topics could prevent important information about respiratory diseases and other health-related threats, leading to a decline in public trust, the researchers said.
People demonstrate outside the main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 2025. Researchers say an audit found that nearly half of the federal health surveillance database, which began under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has stopped updating for unknown reasons.(Getty Images)
Dr. Jeanne Marazzo, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said: “The evidence is damning. The government’s anti-vaccine stance has blocked the reliable flow of data needed to protect Americans from preventable infections.” Sue the government over public health warnings claimed not to have contributed to the research Attached editorial.
“The consequences would be dire.”
Marrazzo added that the failure to provide accurate and timely data to public health leaders and health care providers will undermine their ability to recognize and respond to disease outbreaks, and also noted that the findings are consistent with steps taken by governments to undermine confidence in vaccines.
Although the study did not give a reason for the suspension, she said she believes it probably doesn’t matter whether the reported data interruptions were due to deliberate neglect of data sharing on vaccinations or staffing shortages due to agency cuts.
“Both causal pathways demonstrate a gross disregard for human lives, scientific progress, and the dedication of public health workers who have been a bulwark against the progression of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases,” she said.
independent The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Department spokesman Andrew Nixon said. NBC News The CDC reports novel coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus activity through its Respiratory Virus Surveillance System and weekly influenza activity through a database called FluView.
“Changes to individual dashboards and update schedules reflect day-to-day data quality and system management decisions, not political direction,” he said. “Under this administration, public health data reporting is driven by scientific integrity, transparency, and accuracy.”
“Flying Blind”
The audit will be based on Previous research Last year’s cuts meant more than a dozen data collection programs that tracked deaths and illnesses were eliminated. pregnancyabortion, work-related injuries, sexual violence, lead poisoning, and more.
And it’s not just data reporting that has stopped. Public data page has been deleted From the CDC website: department has been closed and Newsletter publication has been suspended.
“The lack of that expertise and the link between testing information and outbreak investigations means we are acting blind,” said Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. politiko In April. “The critical service they provide to the nation’s public health laboratories is unique.”
Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In April he said: “Cut down unhealthy fats” at the CDCand said some of the agency’s work would be transferred to the new Administration for a Healthy America.
Medical staff administers measles vaccine to a child at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, in February 2025. The United States faces its worst outbreak of a vaccine-preventable virus in more than 30 years (AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier this month, the ministry announced: NPR Efforts to form a government are still underway, but the timeline remains unclear.
historical issues
All of this is happening during a historic public health crisis in which vaccinations play a critical role.
The United States is experiencing its worst measles virus outbreak in more than 30 years, Continued increase in vaccine hesitancy, Including HHS.
Scientists are waiting to see whether the United States will lose its longstanding measles-free status. CDC data updated Friday shows that 416 cases have been reported in 14 states so far this year.
However, measles is preventable with a vaccine, and two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine are 97% effective against this highly contagious disease.
The outbreak comes as Americans also have to contend with the problem. Rapid increase in whooping coughwith A nasty and severe flu season.
Because of these threats, it’s important to keep your database up to date, according to Marazzo.
“In order to respond quickly to this type of event, you first need to know about it,” she said.