Balanced News: Politics, Media Erode Trust in Top Health Agencies, Survey Says

The study found that the political wars waged over public health recommendations on how to fight the COVID-19 pandemic have had a direct effect on the trust in public health agencies, such as the CDC and FDA. Low or no trust in these agencies was related to the belief that agency decisions are inconsistent, influenced by politics, and not based on science. The study also found that many people worry about corporations influencing public health policy. Public health agencies need to build more trust in order to enlist the population’s help in fighting pandemics and other public health emergencies.