03/11/2026
This piece ran in the NYT today about what it's actually like to be a pediatrician right now. A nurse practitioner in Kentucky examines an 11-day-old, and the parents have declined every vaccine. She doesn't push — she says, "If there's any way I can answer your questions, I'm happy to," and leaves the room. It takes a lot to keep that door open in an environment designed to erode trust, and pediatricians are absorbing that cost every single day.
And this is not just about vaccines anymore. The article notes that doubt is now spilling into antibiotics, Tylenol, and even spinal taps (gahhh!). Three infants in Idaho died last year after parents declined vitamin K, a shot given at birth to prevent bleeding.
Our podcast episode also dropped today — we talked with Dr. David Higgins (CO), Dr. Sian Jones-Jobst (NE), and Dr. Sara Goza (GA) about what this moment looks like from inside three very different practices across the country. And if you've ever heard the accusation that pediatricians push vaccines for profit, please listen. Vaccines are actually the second highest cost for a pediatric practice after personnel due to costs of stocking, storing, administering... and reimbursement often barely covers it. Practices have closed over this. We published a full report on vaccine economics that breaks it all down; you can find it at unbiasedscience.org.
I often say that pediatricians are the Mr. Rogers of medicine. They chose the lowest-paid medical specialty because they love kids, they're good at meeting people where they are, and they believe in showing up for families even on the hard days. They didn't sign up for a world where misinformation from the federal government walks into the exam room before they do. I give them all the credit in the world for still showing up 🩷
Article link:
🔗https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/health/pediatricians-vaccines-cdc-kennedy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.SVA.VhY7.ByYVuOpG64Gi&smid=url-share
Report on vaccine economics:
https://www.unbiasedscience.org/s/The-Real-Economics-of-Pediatric-Vaccination.pdf
Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjH-1L3mCg
You can also tune in wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify, etc.)
