Americans trust AMA more than CDC on vaccine safety, survey finds

A national survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) finds that Americans are now significantly more likely to follow vaccine safety recommendations from the American Medical Association (AMA) than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The survey, which was conducted online November 21-24, 2025, among 1,006 U.S. adults, comes amid controversy over recently revised language on the CDC’s website suggesting that studies have not ruled out a connection between childhood vaccination and autism. That position conflicts with decades of scientific consensus and public statements from leading medical associations.

When the AMA and CDC differ

According to the survey, if the CDC and AMA issue conflicting recommendations about vaccine safety, 35% of Americans say they would follow the AMA, compared with just 16% who would take the CDC’s guidance.

Another 21% said they would trust neither organization. Twenty-seven percent were unsure.

Views crossed political lines, as self-identified Democrats, Republicans and independents each reported they were more likely to trust the AMA than the CDC.

While 43% of Democrats favored the AMA, just 18% preferred the CDC. For Republicans, the margin was 31% to 13%. Independents showed a similar pattern at 31% to 18%.

“Political party differences here are not surprising,” said Ken Winneg, APPC’s managing director of survey research. “The different willingness to rely on the AMA vs. the CDC, based on political party, is consistent with research showing that partisanship is now a clear factor in health perceptions. But it’s important to note that most independents, Democrats and Republicans would accept an AMA recommendation over a CDC one about vaccine safety.”

Older Americans had the strongest preference for the AMA — half of those 65 and older said they would follow it over the CDC, compared with 13% who favor the CDC. Adults under 30 were roughly split, with 24% choosing the CDC and 19% the AMA.

Confidence in CDC falls

Overall trust in CDC vaccine information appears fragile.

Just over half of respondents (52%) said they are confident that the CDC provides trustworthy guidance on vaccine safety and effectiveness. Only 16% described themselves as “very confident," while 21% said they are “not at all confident.”

Confidence declines with age. Among adults 65 and older, 47% reported confidence in the CDC, compared with 59% of adults 18 to 29.

Autism language fuels confusion

Until late November, the CDC’s website stated that studies show “no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism.” On November 20, that language was revised to say: “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.”

Leading medical organizations — including the AMA — have strongly opposed the revised framing.

“Despite recent changes to the CDC website, an abundance of evidence from decades of scientific studies shows no link between vaccines and autism,” said AMA Trustee Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D., in an organizational statement. “The AMA is deeply concerned that perpetuating misleading claims on vaccines will lead to further confusion, distrust, and ultimately, dangerous consequences for individuals and public health.”

A narrow majority of survey respondents (52%) said their views align more closely with the statement that there is no link between vaccines and autism, but 30% said they agree with the CDC’s new position that such claims are not evidence-based because studies have not ruled out a possible link.

Partisan divisions emerged sharply, as nearly three-quarters of Democrats selected the “no link” statement, compared with one-third of Republicans and just over half of independents.

Younger adults were also far more likely than their older peers to say there is no link, with 68% of adults ages 18 to 29 selecting that statement.

Uncertainty on CDC’s position

Confusion over where the CDC currently stands is widespread. Half of all respondents said they do not know which autism-related message is on the agency’s site. Only 20% correctly selected the CDC’s updated wording.

According to Patrick E. Jamieson, Ph.D., director of APPC’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute, part of the confusion may stem from the CDC’s choice to leave a header reading “Vaccines do not cause autism” atop the page, while including disclaimers and contradictory statements beneath it.

Beliefs on vaccine-autism link shifting

The survey findings also suggest a longer-term erosion in public understanding.

Since APPC began tracking related beliefs in April 2021, fewer people now say the claim that vaccines are behind the rising autism rates is false, and more say it could be true.

In 2021, 71% said the statement was false, but that share had fallen to 65% by October 2023. Meanwhile, the share who say it is true rose from around 10-11% in 2021 to 16% in 2023.

Nearly half of respondents in the current poll said fully vaccinated children are no more or less likely to show signs of autism than unvaccinated children. Twelve percent said vaccinated children are more likely to show signs, 12% said less likely and 29% were unsure.