CDC report on lower vaccination rates among kindergartners sparks false claims
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 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.
A CDC report on lower vaccination rates among kindergartners in the 2024-2025 school year dominated online conversations about vaccine safety. Additionally, a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics encouraging U.S. states and territories to eliminate nonmedical exemptions for school immunizations fueled false claims and a debate about parental rights. Meanwhile, in a popular post, the HHS secretary falsely claimed that a recent Danish study on aluminum and vaccines is deceptive.
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What’s trending in vaccine conversation:
On July 31, the CDC published a report that found that vaccination rates for all vaccines among U.S. kindergartners during the 2024-2025 school year decreased, including polio, DTaP, and MMR. The report also found that vaccine exemptions increased in 36 states and D.C. In response, some social media users celebrated the news, falsely claiming that skipping vaccines could make children healthier. Users also reignited discussions about COVID-19 vaccine safety and emphasized distrust in medical institutions, with posts receiving almost 15 million views.
Meanwhile, on July 28, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement encouraging U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia to eliminate nonmedical exemptions to school vaccination requirements, citing the rise in nonmedical exemptions across the country. The AAP highlighted that in certain areas, vaccination rates are dropping below the rates needed to prevent the spread of certain diseases, which can lead to disease outbreaks. In response, some online users claimed that removing nonmedical exemptions would be an assault on their parental or personal rights and called for the AAP to be defunded. Others joined the online conversation, including a representative from Louisiana, who posted that “any American’s reason for not receiving a vax [sic] is nobody’s damn business.” Other users proposed spacing vaccine doses out or delaying vaccinations. These conversations received over 400,000 views.
In a popular August 1 post, the HHS secretary cast doubt on a recent study from Denmark that found there’s no link between aluminum in vaccines and autism or several other conditions. In the post, which received over 3 million views, the secretary falsely claimed that the study’s results were deceptive and that the authors were funded by the pharmaceutical industry. He also linked to an article where he discusses what he claims are flaws in the study.
Read the fact checks:
- Johns Hopkins: Understanding the Vaccines on the Childhood Vaccination Schedule
- Public Good News: How are routine vaccines tested for safety?
- PsyPost: RFK Jr. claims major vaccine safety study is fatally flawed — is he right?
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
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.
In response to false claims surrounding routine vaccination and its safety, messaging may emphasize that routine vaccines have prevented over 1 million deaths and 500 million illnesses in the U.S. over the last three decades. Additionally, health communicators may emphasize that high vaccination rates protect all children, including those who are too young to be vaccinated and people with health conditions that prevent them from getting vaccinated.
In response to doubts about the vaccine schedule and conversations about nonmedical exemptions, communicators may also emphasize the importance of herd immunity, which vulnerable people (like young children and those with certain health conditions) rely on to stay safe.
As for the HHS secretary’s claims that the recent Danish study is deceptive, debunking messaging may include that the small amount of aluminum in vaccines is safe and that the study, which is the largest to date on the safety of aluminum in vaccines, confirmed that there’s no link between aluminum in vaccines and negative health outcomes in children.
Interested in recommendations tailored to health care providers? Click here.