Article on Iowa’s anti-mRNA vaccine movement leads to online debate

A recent article in The Iowa Standard reported on a growing movement among Iowa politicians and health care professionals to remove mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from the market, citing safety concerns. Social media reactions are mixed, with some users claiming that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and others suggesting that vaccination should be a “personal choice.”

Recommendation: These types of posts may undermine Iowa patients’ perception of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, especially when the claims are coming from government officials and health care professionals. Talking points may emphasize that mRNA vaccines are based on decades of research and have been determined to be safe. For more than three years, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously studied in millions of people worldwide with no evidence linking them to widespread health issues or deaths. COVID-19 vaccines—along with other mitigation methods like masking—are our best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization, death, and long COVID. The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.