Parents navigating vaccine messaging

What are your plans for future vaccines? We're not too sure yet.

First-time father Brandon [? Goncalves, ?] who's also a nurse practitioner, decided against vaccinating his newborn for hepatitis B, which the CDC currently recommends be done at birth. We're not entirely sure what route we're going to go yet. Good morning.

Pediatrician David Butler worries some families are making vaccine decisions based on politics or online research. And what goes through your mind as a medical professional? It's difficult, because me, myself, all of my colleagues, all we want to do is provide the best care we can for your child. They have their minds made up before they come in.

Now parents have more to consider. Last week, the panel that advises the CDC on vaccines voted to stop recommending the COVID-19 vaccines for everybody, leaving it up to individuals. No prescription required. It also recommended the chickenpox vaccine be separated from the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine for toddlers and indefinitely delayed a vote that would have moved the hepatitis B shot from birth to one month. But many states are now disregarding CDC recommendations. Seven, led by Democrats in the Northeast, formed a coalition this past week. Four states make up a new West Coast Health Alliance, both government groups encouraging widespread vaccinations. Meanwhile, Florida's surgeon general wants to roll back vaccine mandates altogether. Are we going to see more sick kids in Florida? You've got to expect to.

That's what concerns Marcella [? Farra-- ?] It's a little dangerous to not get vaccines.

--whose two-year-old is up to date with her vaccines and was getting her flu shot. What have other parents told you? Everybody's a little bit more confused, but I think a lot of people are still very strong in their own beliefs. And vaccination rates are dropping. Surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation found, since 2019, the number of kindergartners vaccinated against polio and the measles has dropped below the recommended levels to prevent community transmission. Cristian Benavides reporting.