A decline in flu vaccinations for Colorado children in recent years may be tied to growing skepticism and mistrust in vaccines overall, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dr. Michael Milobsky, a pediatrician in Castle Rock.
Since the pandemic, flu vaccination rates among children in Colorado have dropped every year and are now 20 percent lower than before 2020, leaving many more kids vulnerable to the flu. Colorado pediatricians say this is the highest flu rate in Colorado in a decade.
This skepticism appears to affect not only new vaccines, but vaccines with long-established safety records, such as the influenza and measles vaccines. Dr. Milobsky noted that heightened anxiety surrounding vaccines likely stems from the controversy and perceived lack of transparency around the COVID-19 vaccine, fueling hesitancy toward immunizations more broadly.
“There’s a massive measles outbreak in Texas right now, despite the fact that we've been using the measles vaccine for 75 or 80 years,” he said. “Concerns about vaccine safety, often fueled by misinformation, are still deterring people from vaccinating their children.”
Regarding the flu, Dr. Milobsky clarified that flu vaccination rates do not necessarily correlate with the number of flu cases in children. Instead, the flu vaccine serves to reduce the severity of illness, preventing complications such as pneumonia and hospitalizations. “We are experiencing a particularly intense flu season, but that’s not unusual — it’s part of the cyclical nature of flu strains,” he said. What we do know is that every single year, children who get vaccinated against the flu are way less likely to get severely ill.”
Addressing the broader issue of vaccine hesitancy, Dr. Milobsky acknowledged the difficulty of reversing public skepticism. “You're asking me to solve a societal, cultural problem,” he said. “There's growing mistrust of physicians and misinformation on social media that makes people believe their own research is more valid than expert medical advice.”
Despite this, he believes there is room for dialogue between doctors and parents. “I encourage all of my families to bring me information so we can discuss it,” he said. “But at the same time, many parents don’t have the medical background to fully interpret the research they find. The challenge is helping them differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources.”
However, due to time constraints, Dr. Milobsky noted that he no longer invests extended time in persuading hesitant parents. “I simply encourage them to look at credible sources and am always happy to answer questions, but I’ve stopped trying to convince people who aren’t open to it.”
Dr. Milobsky emphasized the importance of fostering trust in medical professionals while allowing space for questions. “Parents want to feel that their concerns are heard and validated,” he said. “A strong relationship with their child’s healthcare provider, one built on trust and open dialogue, is key to navigating these concerns effectively.”
As flu season continues, experts urge parents to consider the long-standing benefits of vaccination, not just in preventing illness, but in protecting against severe complications. While misinformation persists, medical professionals continue to advocate for informed, science-backed decision-making when it comes to public health.
