Past Insights
Plus, a trending video resurfaced the claim that doctors are bribed to give vaccines, and a new study added fuel to the anti-vaccine “turbo cancer” myth....
Plus, posts discussed vaccination during pregnancy and the importance of childhood vaccines....
Plus, posts discuss vaccine-preventable outbreaks and the benefits of shingles vaccination....
Plus, the internet reacts to a “chaotic” CDC vaccine meeting and new research finds increased rejection of childhood vaccines....
This past week, confusion spread online after CDC vaccine advisors voted to shift COVID-19 vaccination from a universal recommendation to a shared decision between patients and providers. The change means updated COVID-19 vaccines remain available and likely covered by insurance for everyone 6 months and older, but only after a...
Plus, the president’s social media post sparked a debate about childhood vaccine safety after a child died of a rare measles complication....
This week, health officials repeated false and misleading claims about vaccines, while a viral post promoted flu vaccines....
Florida’s move to eliminate school vaccine requirements fueled more than 100,000 posts and 12 billion impressions, marking the biggest spike in vaccine discussions since early summer....
This week, U.S. health officials and anti-vaccine advocates amplified fears about COVID-19 vaccine development, regulation, and safety....
As summer winds down, vaccine conversations shifted to the new school year and the updated COVID-19 vaccines available this fall. A new CDC report found that non-medical exemptions for routine vaccines rose last school year as childhood immunization rates continue to decline. Parents and other social media users discussed the...
This week, the launch of an at-home nasal-spray flu vaccine sparked online conversations about vaccine access, and a viral video promoted myths about vaccine safety and “detox.”...
This week, online posts discussed the lack of public interest in fall COVID-19 vaccines, HHS funding cuts for mRNA vaccines, and vaccinations for the new school year....
This week, a CDC report on lower vaccination rates among kindergartners fueled false claims about vaccine safety, and a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics sparked conversations about vaccine exemptions....
This week, a seemingly pro-vaccine video circulated online promoting hesitancy about certain vaccines and misleading claims that doctors are bribed to give vaccines....
This month, the HHS secretary’s promotion of false and misleading claims about childhood vaccine safety sparked weeks of online debate. In a viral social media post on June 24, the day before CDC vaccine advisors met, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. misrepresented several studies to claim that thimerosal—an ingredient...
This week, online users debated the safety of aluminum in vaccines and medical groups suing HHS over updated COVID-19 vaccine policies....
Recent online posts have debated the cause and severity of ongoing U.S. measles outbreaks and the safety of ingredients in routine vaccinations....
Over the last two weeks, online commenters expressed skepticism about a new COVID-19 variant and whooping cough vaccinations....
This month, changes to the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee and updates to the federal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations dominated online discussions about vaccines. On June 9, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices just two weeks before the...
Myth that vaccines cause SIDS resurfaces online....
This week, a new COVID-19 variant sparked concern and skepticism online, while a congressional hearing fueled false narratives about COVID-19 vaccine safety....
Online conversations about vaccines over the last month were colored by recent policy shifts at the Department of Health and Human Services and waning trust in health authorities. HHS’s plans to placebo-test all new vaccines, including updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines, were met with excitement from vaccine opponents and...
This week, myths spread about routine childhood immunizations online in response to a new CDC study and a misleading claim from the HHS secretary....
This week, a shingles vaccine study drew mixed reactions online and an ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in California fueled anti-vaccine speculation....
Posts discuss pediatric flu deaths and vaccine hesitancy....
This week, a viral post promoted myths about HPV vaccines and social media users reacted to reports of changing COVID-19 vaccine guidelines....
This week, vaccine opponents misrepresented a CDC autism study as the agency considers rolling back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations....
This past month, vaccine skeptics ramped up their vaccine opposition as evidence of the deadly effects of anti-vaccine rhetoric grew. Declining vaccine uptake has led to historic outbreaks of measles and whooping cough and contributed to the worst flu season in 16 years. Recent reports of children dying from measles...
Several studies circulating online this week are fueling false claims about the effectiveness and safety of flu and COVID-19 vaccines....
This week, social media users dismissed measles and whooping cough deaths while falsely linking a group of nurses’ brain tumors to COVID-19 vaccines....
This week, online vaccine conversations discussed alleged vaccine-related deaths and how global funding cuts may impact vaccine access worldwide....
This week, the parents of a child who died of measles discouraged vaccination, and other posts repeated false claims about COVID-19 vaccines....
Concerns about future vaccine access at the state and federal level circulated online as ongoing measles outbreaks underscored the real-world impact of vaccine hesitancy. Many social media users repeated false claims about measles and MMR vaccines, including myths promoted by high-ranking government officials. State lawmakers introduced bills to restrict mRNA...
This week, a proposed CDC study into vaccines and autism, an ongoing measles outbreaks, and a 20-year-old news clip drove conversations about vaccine safety and effectiveness....
This week, the measles outbreak in the South Central and Southwestern U.S. continued to fuel false claims while online posts discussed new bills and lawsuits targeting childhood and mRNA vaccines....
This week, data supporting pediatric COVID-19 vaccine efficacy caused mixed reactions, and a canceled FDA meeting sparked fears about flu vaccine access. Anti-vaccine bills and ongoing measles outbreaks dominated regional conversations....
This week, social media users discussed changes at HHS while attacks on mRNA technology caused concerns about vaccine access. Regional posts discussed a measles death in Texas and failed anti-vaccine bills....
This week, RFK Jr. made a misleading statement about vaccine safety monitoring systems, as Louisiana officially ended vaccine promotion. Regional posts focused on vaccine access, Texas’s measles outbreaks, and vaccine requirements for organ transplants....
Online calls for states to ban mRNA technology intensified this week as a measles outbreak hits West Texas. Regional conversations focused on school vaccine mandates and flu outbreaks....
As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was questioned about his anti-vaccine stances during his senate confirmation hearings for HHS secretary, false narratives about childhood vaccines circulated. Many myths that Kennedy previously promoted resurfaced online, including the false link between childhood vaccines and autism. A non-credible and non-peer-reviewed paper published on a...
This week, myths about childhood and COVID-19 vaccine safety resurfaced online while regional posts discussed TB and measles outbreaks and an mRNA vaccine ban....
This week, speculation circulated about AI-driven mRNA vaccines. Meanwhile, a dubious paper linking vaccines to autism dominated national vaccine conversations and regional posts, which also discussed local tuberculosis, rabies, and measles outbreaks....
Plus, vaccine posts discuss exemptions and cancer myths. Regional conversations discuss childhood vaccines, edible vaccines, and the “quad-demic.”...
This week, debates spiked online about maternal and COVID-19 vaccine safety, while regional conversations discussed school and employer vaccine mandates....
In the last month, routine vaccines were subjected to unfounded criticism and false claims from high-profile political figures. President-elect Donald Trump and people affiliated with his proposed health team promoted the myth that childhood vaccines cause autism and questioned the safety of polio vaccines. Meanwhile, Louisiana health officials restricted the...
In recent weeks, Louisiana restricted public health promotion of certain vaccines, and false claims circulated about bird flu vaccines. Pediatric flu deaths and organ donor vaccination status dominated regional vaccine conversations....
This week, online posts falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer while regional conversations focused on the uptake of mpox and flu vaccines....
Regionally, there were discussions about vaccine requirements for health workers and parental consent for vaccines....
Over the last month, the results of the U.S. presidential election and the nominees selected for the incoming administration’s health team have dominated online vaccine conversations as high-profile political figures escalated attacks on routine and COVID-19 vaccines. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance claimed on a popular podcast to...
In the last two weeks, a pseudo-medical organization called for a global ban on mRNA vaccines, and edited video clips cast doubt on COVID-19 mitigation measures. Regional discussions centered on whooping cough and COVID-19 vaccine safety....
This week, social media users discussed a self-amplifying mRNA bird flu vaccine and the global surge in measles cases. Regional conversations focused on whooping cough, bird flu, and debates over COVID-19 and flu vaccine safety....
This week, vaccine opponents again attempted to link COVID-19 vaccines to “turbo cancer” and blood clots. Regional conversations discussed vaccine mandate exemptions and whooping cough....
In recent weeks, myths about COVID-19 vaccine safety recirculated online as vaccine opponents targeted vaccines meant for the most vulnerable populations. The CDC’s recommendations for additional immunizations for older and immunocompromised individuals garnered a mixed response online. A non-peer reviewed study was used to falsely claim that only mRNA...
Politicians continue to dispute COVID-19 vaccine safety at the national level. Regionally, online posts discuss vaccine access and whooping cough vaccines....
Viral posts this week highlighted the backlash to pediatric COVID-19 vaccines and falsely claimed that Dutch courts indicted Bill Gates over COVID-19 vaccines....
This week, the editor of a new anti-vaccine book targets maternal COVID-19 vaccine safety and rising whooping cough cases fuel anti-immigration narratives. Regional vaccine conversations were dominated by bird flu and myths about sudden infant death syndrome....
This week, popular social media posts attacked maternal immunizations and a potential ovarian cancer vaccine. Regionally, social media users debated vaccines for older adults and vaccine mandates....
Plus, data shows drop in vaccine coverage for kindergartners....
This past month, a new survey found widespread apathy and hesitancy about respiratory diseases and fall vaccines among U.S. adults, with less than 40 percent planning to get vaccinated. Results from the survey were published less than two weeks after the Florida surgeon general released another statement contradicting federal...
False claims spread online about routine and HPV vaccines while regional discussions focused on a rare rabies death and a non-infectious vaccine strain measles case....
Conversations about a newly approved at-home flu vaccine and unverified claims of COVID-19 vaccine mixups trended online this week. Whooping cough and declining childhood immunization dominated regional discussions....
This week, myths about “turbo cancer” and childhood vaccine safety reemerged online. Vaccine hesitancy linked to COVID-19 vaccines dominated regional conversations....
This week, a new study demonstrates RSV vaccine effectiveness as regional health freedom groups oppose tetanus vaccines and vaccination requirements for organ transplants....
New data published in August underscores the real-world consequences of false and misleading narratives about vaccines, as public trust in routine immunizations dipped to historic lows. The mainstreaming of anti-vaccine rhetoric has given high-profile vaccine skeptics an even larger platform to attempt to discredit vaccines, new and old. False claims...
This week, posts questioned fall vaccine timing and the measles vaccine, as regional vaccine opponents used a tragic death as an anti-vaccine talking point....
Rare viruses reignite vaccine and pandemic conspiracies....
This week, false claims about infant hepatitis B and COVID-19 vaccines circulated while regional debates about vaccine mandates and the summer COVID-19 surge persist....
Regionally, back-to-school vaccinations, declining immunization rates, and the Oregon measles outbreak dominated conversations....
This week, false claims about bird flu vaccines and inhaled COVID-19 vaccines spread online, as rising measles and COVID-19 cases raise regional concerns....
With a new school year and respiratory disease season rapidly approaching, vaccinations of all kinds are under attack online. Opposition to school vaccine requirements continues to grow as two presidential candidates recently promoted myths about routine vaccine safety. Adding to this false narrative are vaccine opponents who are using a...
Conversations also spiked after former President Trump doubled down on his commitment to weakening school vaccine mandates....
This week, two presidential candidates promoted vaccine myths, adult chickenpox went viral, and school vaccines drew ire in the South....
In trending conversations this week, fearmongering about pediatric vaccine safety on the rise as measles outbreaks in the Northwest and Midwest sparked false claims....
Old myths rarely die in anti-vaccine conversations—they’re simply recycled. Two recent papers resurfaced discredited claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety, sparking days of contentious online discussions. Meanwhile, a second state official has launched a lawsuit against Pfizer, following the Texas attorney general’s anti-vaccine playbook. The lawsuit, like the...
Although vaccine skeptics and opponents are the most frequent purveyors of false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, sometimes more legitimate sources unwittingly help circulate misleading narratives. The amplification of alleged vaccine injuries by vaccine opponents creates an environment in which even good-faith attempts to discuss vaccine safety can add fuel to...
Bird flu has been in the headlines lately, so we’d like to point you to a helpful resource: Our new report describes how online discussions about H5N1 are recycling narratives about COVID-19. Take a read, and feel free to also check out our report on trending measles narratives, other...
Old false narratives have re-emerged in recent weeks as vaccine opponents raise objections to vaccines of all kinds. Some policymakers are using fears about emerging mRNA technology to score political points, while anti-vaccine advocates attempt to undermine the safety of childhood vaccines that have been in use for decades. Meanwhile,...
Scientific research is an important part of better understanding the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and is vital to help shape public health. But in the wrong hands, even legitimate data can be distorted. In just the last few weeks, data supporting additional protection for high-risk populations, national vaccine...
As much of the world’s attention shifts from COVID-19 to other public health concerns, some trending narratives are attempting to link COVID-19 vaccines to unrelated public health news. In the last month, vaccine skeptics have falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines cause everything from long COVID and AIDS to rising...
In the final weeks of 2023, some old but persistent myths about COVID-19 vaccines reemerged. Florida’s surgeon general, who has a history of promoting false claims, called for a ban on mRNA COVID-19 vaccines due to alleged cancer risks. Meanwhile, some popular social media accounts misrepresented news about disease...
Concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety continue to cause vaccine hesitancy, fueled by a constant stream of misleading and false claims from vaccine opponents, including some prominent political officials. These anti-vaccine narratives are not original: They’re old claims given new life when attached to misrepresented studies, misused data, and political...
The safety of COVID-19 vaccines has been well-established over the last three years. But that hasn’t stopped vaccine opponents from seizing every opportunity to advance the narrative that the vaccines are harmful or even deadly....
Social media and the shift away from legacy news outlets have allowed vaccine opponents to promote false anti-vaccine information to audiences larger than previously imaginable. That is how false claims about cancer-causing DNA in COVID-19 vaccines can take hold in a span of months, while similar myths about other vaccines...
On September 12, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 13-1 to back updated Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for all adults and children over 6 months. The decision followed the FDA’s approval of the new vaccines on September 11. In response to the announcements about...
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