Senate hearing renews COVID-19 debate and debunked myths

After the U.S. hit a 35-year high in measles cases, commenters also debated measles risks and MMR vaccine safety.

In the past week, COVID-19 myths regained attention online following a Senate hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci and an interview with the health secretary. The renewed discussion included false claims about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Plus, in late July, measles cases in the U.S. reached a 35-year high, sparking debate about whether measles is serious and whether the MMR vaccine is safe.

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What’s trending in vaccine conversations

On July 29, a Senate committee questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, social media users debated whether pandemic-era restrictions and COVID-19 vaccines were necessary, with some posts garnering millions of views as of August 4. Many commenters falsely claimed that COVID-19 is not a serious disease, and some repeated the long-debunked claim that COVID-19 vaccines have caused mass death.

Then, in an August 2 interview about Fauci’s hearing, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines do not protect children, along with other false health claims. Some commenters agreed with Kennedy’s claims, falsely suggesting that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe, particularly for children. Others cast doubt on Kennedy’s leadership and promoted COVID-19 vaccination across age groups.

Over the past two weeks, articles have reported on record-setting measles cases in the U.S. so far this year. The news revived familiar online debates about measles and the MMR vaccine. While some commenters warned that measles can be deadly and encouraged parents to vaccinate their children, others falsely claimed that measles is not a dangerous disease and that the MMR vaccine is unsafe.

Read the fact checks: 

• FactCheck.org: No Evidence Excess Deaths Linked to Vaccines, Contrary to Claims Online
• Mayo Clinic: COVID-19
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Questions and answers about COVID-19 vaccines
• HealthChildren.org: Measles: What Parents Need to Know

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Recommendations for public health professionals

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 developing strategy for messaging about vaccines.

Community members may have new questions and uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccines as myths resurface online before respiratory virus season. Health communicators may emphasize that while most people now have some protection against COVID-19 from vaccination, past infection, or both, the virus can still cause serious illness—especially for older adults and immunocompromised people. Debunking messaging may explain that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have caused mass death and that the vaccines have instead saved millions of lives. Communicators may encourage people to talk to a health care provider about the best time to get another COVID-19 vaccine, as some people, such as those 65 and older, may want to get a second dose of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine now, as cases begin to rise. Messaging may also prepare communities for the 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine rollout by explaining that the updated vaccine targets more recently circulating variants.

Continued false claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety, especially from public health officials, can erode trust in public health guidance. Communicators may remind people that COVID-19 vaccines help protect children and adults from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested and continue to be monitored for safety, and millions of children have received them. Communicators may encourage people to consult evidence-based vaccination guidance from trusted medical organizations—like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians—is recommended.

The highest U.S. measles case count in 35 years provides an opportunity for communicators to explain how diseases can reemerge when vaccination rates decline. Social media conversations continue to falsely frame measles as a minor infection; in response, communicators may stress that measles is highly contagious and can potentially lead to hospitalization, pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death, particularly among kids. As families prepare to go back to school, messaging may explain that measles can spread quickly among unprotected students in classrooms, which is why the AAP recommends that children receive the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years. Reiterating that the MMR vaccine is the only safe way to protect against measles is recommended.