Some studies show that 50 percent of people who have gotten measles have EEG changes

— Dr. Kathryn Rudman, Pediatrician, Briarpatch Pediatrics

Value of Childhood Vaccines

In the second part of our conversation about new challenges parents face in 2026, Cape Cod pediatrician Dr. Kathryn Rudman shares insight into childhood vaccines and why measles should worry us.

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27 February 2026 – CAPE COD, MA – Sorting out a healthy diet for kids forms part of a daily challenge for many parents, especially in light of recent changes in federal advice – but changes in nutrition guidance isn’t the only changes sowing confusion

In the first week in January, the US Department of Health and Human Services also changed is vaccine recommendations. The changes – which many in the medical and science community question – come at time when cases of once-eradicated childhood diseases like measles continue to rise.

What has changed?

The new vaccine schedule, announced by the CDC on January 5 2026 at the urging of the Trump administration, reduces the number recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. It also divides vaccines into ones recommended for all and ones recommended only with shared decision-making and/or high risk patients. The former group includes diseases such as polio, rubella, tetanus, while the latter group includes diseases such as RSV, COVID, flu, and hepatitis A and B.

Influencer impact?

Many in the medical and scientific community disagree with the changes and worry a drop in vaccinations can harm both individual and public health. In addition to the Trump administration, a host of online influencers also add to the confusion, sharing parenting advice about medical decisions with no background in medicine, notes Cape Cod pediatrician Dr. Kathryn Rudman.

“Misinformation speaks very loudly and its very easy to scare someone and its very hard to unscare someone,” she said, noting that many of influencers bring no actual medical knowledge, training, or experience to their well-dressed posts.

Why do vaccines matter?

Vaccines don’t just protect the person who receives it – they also help protect the larger community.

In the case of measles, for example, members of the larger community includes children still too young for the vaccine, as well as those with immunocompromised systems for whom the vaccine cannot provide full protection.

Ed note: On Feb 27 2026, Massachusetts announced its first two cases of measles since 2024.

What impact does dropping vaccines have?

Measles offers a case study in what happens when childhood vaccination numbers drop. The disease had been considered eradicated in the US – largely due to the 95+ effectivity of the measles vaccine. But in recent years, a series of mixed messages from influencers and segments of officials sowed confusion and vaccination rates dropped. As rates droppeds, outbreaks of the disease emerged.

Is measles dangerous?

For more than a generation, vaccines reduced cases of measles as they have with many other childhood diseases. As a result, large swaths of hte population have no memory of the way diseases like polio, measles, and others once struck fear in parents’ hearts and killed or disabled children.

“So many people have not seen measles so they have no idea how bad it can really be,” said Dr. Rudman.

“Some studies show that 50 percent of people who have gotten measles have EEG changes … there are changes in the brain that happens with measles 50 percent of the time.”

What can parents do?

In time time filled with options and mixed information, parents end up needing to research and consult with knodwledgable and trusted sources, says Dr. Rudman.

“Look for the stuff that doesn’t make sense,” she counseled. suggesting parents ask “Show me the data.”