CDC Halts Updates on Nearly Half of Its Databases; Vaccine Data Most Affected

According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, almost half of the databases that public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were regularly updating have been suspended without prior notice or explanation.

The research, conducted by Janet Freilich of Boston University and Jeremy Jacobs from Vanderbilt University, analyzed all CDC databases. They discovered a total of 82 databases that had been updated at least monthly by early 2025. However, as of October 2025, only 44 databases continued to receive updates, while updates for 38 databases (46 percent) were paused without public explanation.

An examination of the databases affected shows that those concerning vaccination data suffered the most. Within the 38 outdated databases, 33 (equating to 87 percent) contained vaccination-related data. Conversely, none of the 44 databases that continued to be updated pertain to vaccination. Other affected databases involved infectious disease data, including information on hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The most frequently affected vaccination types were those against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, with two databases encompassing all three vaccines. During a revisit in December by the researchers, only one database was found to have been updated, leaving 37 still outdated.

This situation is particularly significant given the prominent stance of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his strong anti-vaccine advocacy. The researchers, including Freilich and Jacobs, noted in the study, "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."