New York toddler’s death used to discredit vaccines

Vaccine opponents' social media accounts are using a story about a young child in New York who died two days after getting routine vaccinations to spread false narratives about the safety of vaccines for children and babies. The child’s family linked the child’s death to vaccines on their fundraising page, fueling the false claims.

Risk level: High

Recommendation: These types of claims perpetuate false information about vaccine safety, which may discourage parents from vaccinating their children. It is recommended doctors be prepared to answer questions about adverse reactions to vaccines and emphasize that vaccines protect children against negative health outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases. The CDC recommends vaccination for children.