The news: The identified gunman in a fatal shooting at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters on Friday had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him ill and suicidal, according to media reports. The CDC’s acting chief operating officer said the incident “was a targeted attack on CDC related to COVID.”

Why it matters: While this was the most extreme act of violence against a federal health agency since the coronavirus pandemic, public frustration with the CDC has been growing. Many Americans believe untrue claims about COVID-19 vaccines and blame the CDC for forcing vaccination.

• Trust in the CDC on health issues has plunged from 88% in 2020 to 62% five years later, according to a March 2025 Axios survey.
• 55% of consumers at least somewhat agree with the statement that public health leaders lied about how effective COVID-19 vaccines and masks are at preventing the virus’ spread, per a June 2025 Axios poll. That’s up from 45% in 2022.

• Only about half (56%) of consumers have confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, per a May 2025 KFF survey. And just 24% in that poll believed the claim that mRNA vaccines can alter DNA is “definitely false.”