University of Florida clinical trial prompts social media users to express concerns about mRNA technology

A recent University of Florida clinical trial found that a newly-developed mRNA cancer vaccine was able to reprogram patients’ immune systems to attack glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. While many social media users celebrated these findings, others expressed distrust in mRNA technology and made false claims about mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safety.

Recommendation: Conversations about this research are unlikely to arise in a clinical setting, but social media posts expressing distrust in mRNA technology may prompt patient questions about mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safety. Continuing to reiterate that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested and monitored and have been determined to be safe—as adverse effects are extremely rare—is recommended. The benefits of vaccination outweigh any potential risks because staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines prevents severe illness, death, and long COVID. The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.