Social media users debate CDC approval of new COVID-19 vaccine guidance

Plus, posts discussed vaccination during pregnancy and the importance of childhood vaccines.

This week, the CDC approved its advisors’ recommendations for 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines, making the updated shots available to everyone 6 months and older. The new guidance states that people should talk with a health care provider, like a doctor or pharmacist, before getting vaccinated. Some vaccine opponents cheered the change and said the vaccine should never have been recommended. Meanwhile, a trending video and pro-vaccine article reignited public concerns about vaccines for children and pregnant people.

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What’s trending in vaccine conversation:

Health care providers and health experts online expressed concern about the impact of federal delays in authorizing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations made in mid-September by CDC advisors. Without CDC approval, the federal Vaccines for Children Program was unable to purchase and distribute free vaccines for low-income communities. The American Academy of Pediatrics warned that the delay left “millions of children” without access to COVID-19 vaccines. Social media users described their struggles to get COVID-19 vaccines for their children, including paying out of pocket and traveling out of state.

The CDC acting director finally approved the recommendations on October 6, more than two weeks after the ACIP vote. Some vaccine opponents celebrated the move and argued that the vaccines should never have been given to children. Several posts debated the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, while others continued to express concerns about its availability and cost.

An article in an online women’s magazine discussed the importance of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. The article emphasized evidence that vaccinated people are less likely to catch COVID-19 and have a significantly lower risk of pregnancy complications—including preterm birth, birth defects, and stillbirth—compared to unvaccinated people. Responses to the article highlighted vaccine safety and effectiveness during pregnancy, sharing positive stories of their own experiences. Some posts falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to an increased risk of miscarriages and stillbirths, a myth that has been disproven repeatedly. Several posts encouraged people to ignore experts like the American College of Gynecology and Obstetrics and suggested that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe for anyone. These claims spread as a September Annenberg poll found that most Americans believe COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is dangerous.

In a recent trending video, a social media user asked people who chose not to vaccinate their child to share their experiences. The post received over 2,000 comments, most of them expressing anti-vaccine views. Users explained why they chose not to vaccinate, with many claiming that vaccines are unsafe, unvaccinated children are healthier, natural immunity is better, and childhood illnesses are “normal” and not serious. Several posts falsely linked childhood vaccines to health issues like eczema and endometriosis—echoing the reasons shared by unvaccinated adults and their parents in a recent Washington Post article.

Read the fact checks: 

• The Washington Post: CDC recommends coronavirus vaccine with a new caveat. Here’s what to know.
• FactCheck.org: Vaccine Advisory Committee Members Mislead About COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy 
• Stanford Medicine Children’s Health: What Every Parent Should Know About Immunizations 

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Recommendations for public health professionals

Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. Use these helpful tips when creating content, updating web pages and FAQs, and to inform strategy for messaging about vaccines.

There is still considerable confusion about who can and should get 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines. In light of the CDC’s new guidance, health communicators may explain that COVID-19 vaccines are available and covered by insurance for people 6 months and older. The new guidelines make COVID-19 vaccination a shared decision between patient and health care provider and require that all people speak to a provider—such as a pharmacist, doctor, or nurse—before they are vaccinated. Messaging may also emphasize that all major medical groups have affirmed the vaccine’s safety and recommend it for people ages 6 months and older.

A September Annenberg poll found that most Americans inaccurately believe COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is dangerous. Debunking messaging may explain that research shows that getting vaccinated while pregnant is safe and the best way to protect both pregnant people and infants, who are at the highest risk from COVID-19 after older adults. Messaging may emphasize that all major medical groups, including ACOG, recommend COVID-19 vaccination and affirm its safety. Finally, talking points should highlight that pregnant people are eligible for the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine and that pregnancy is an underlying health condition that increases the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.

Many parents have questions about childhood vaccines, particularly in light of false and misleading claims from high-ranking health officials. Health communicators may address these concerns by explaining that childhood vaccines have been proven safe by decades of research. Messaging may highlight the evidence that routine childhood vaccines save lives and protect children from deadly and debilitating diseases that can cause lifelong health issues. Debunking messaging may also emphasize that there is no evidence that unvaccinated children are healthier than vaccinated children.

Interested in recommendations tailored to health care providers? Click here.