Debate about vaccine ingredients persists online

In recent weeks, Louisiana restricted public health promotion of certain vaccines, and false claims circulated about bird flu vaccines. Pediatric flu deaths and organ donor vaccination status dominated regional vaccine conversations.

For the last few weeks, false and misleading narratives have circulated about the safety and importance of many vaccines. Several popular posts in English and Spanish falsely claimed that MMR, HPV, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 vaccines contain toxic ingredients and that bird flu vaccines are deadly. Meanwhile, Louisiana restricted the ability of public health workers to promote flu, COVID-19, and mpox vaccines, prompting some online to falsely claim that the vaccines are unsafe and unnecessary.

Regional conversations discussed legislation allowing optometrists to administer vaccines, pediatric flu deaths, and the disclosure of organ donor vaccination status. 

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What’s trending nationally in vaccine conversation:

Numerous popular social media posts in multiple languages are circulating false and misleading claims about vaccine ingredients. A widely circulated video clip resurfaced the debate about the use of fetal cell lines to develop vaccines. One popular post falsely claims that abortion rights advocacy is just a means to acquire fetal tissue to make MMR vaccines. Another post claims without evidence that the cells used to develop vaccines are taken from live fetuses. Some posts claim that the hepatitis B vaccine contains thimerosal, which has not been in any childhood vaccine in over two decades. Other posts make unfounded claims that HPV vaccines contain graphene oxide, COVID-19 vaccines contain HIV and cancer-causing DNA contaminants, and multiple routine vaccines contain aluminum that causes developmental delays.

On December 20, NPR reported that a new policy might bar Louisiana departments of health from “advertising or otherwise promoting” flu, COVID-19, or mpox vaccines. Louisiana Department of Health staff told NPR that the policy will be “implemented quietly and would not be put in writing.” NPR reportedly confirmed that the policy had been discussed in at least three agency meetings. In a statement to NPR, the public health entity emphasized a desire to move “away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance” and stated that immunization is an “individual’s personal choice.” Some social media users responded to the news with concern about how the policy will negatively impact vaccine uptake, especially in low-income and marginalized communities. One of the most popular responses described the policy, as well as the Florida surgeon general’s call to ban mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as “the dismantling of public health.” However, many online commenters were supportive of the policy, falsely claiming that vaccines aren’t necessary and cause “misery and death.” Other posters accused the media of fearmongering about the importance of vaccines.

As the U.S. reported its first severe human bird flu case and death, some conspiracy theorists are downplaying the disease and promoting false claims about bird flu vaccine safety. Most of the posts are circulating the debunked claim that Audenz, a bird flu vaccine that was approved by the FDA in 2020, killed one in 200 people who received it. The claim is based on a passage from clinical trial data despite the fact that the data found no link between the deaths and the vaccine. Several social media users speculated that bird flu is an attempt to control the population. A post from a popular conspiracy theorist calls a potential bird flu pandemic an “evil psyop” (psychological operation). The post garnered over 14.8 million views and 118,000 engagements. 

Read the fact checks: 

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Vaccine Ingredients
• CDC: Reasons to Vaccinate 
• Science Feedback: Ingredients in bird flu vaccine Audenz are safe in the amounts present; no evidence that they’re toxic or cause cancern?

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What’s happening in the Northeast:

Two proposed bills in the New Jersey legislature would allow optometrists to administer COVID-19 and flu vaccines, an expansion of authority that currently only applies during a public health emergency. The bills would also add the chickenpox vaccine to the list of vaccines that optometrists can administer. A January 1 blog post called to block the “dangerous vaccine bills,” arguing that optometrists are not qualified to handle adverse reactions to the vaccines. The post also claims that vaccination is unsafe and mainly profit-driven. Other than the blog post, the legislation has not garnered much attention online.

What’s happening in the South:

Parents of a Texas teen who needs a kidney have reportedly refused a donation unless the hospital will disclose the donor’s COVID-19 vaccination status. The family claims that doctors rejected his mother’s request to be a kidney donor and refused to discharge him from the hospital. A long social media thread about the story calls the case “medical tyranny.” One popular post questions why hospitals aren’t required to disclose donor vaccination status.

What’s happening in the Midwest:

On December 18, Nebraska recorded its first pediatric flu death of 2024. The death occurred as national pediatric flu vaccination rates were declining. Social media users responded to the story by encouraging vaccination. Other commenters falsely claimed that flu vaccination causes the flu and won’t prevent flu deaths. One post accused the media of fearmongering to promote vaccines, and another declared, “I’ll stick with ivermectin.”

What’s happening in the West:

Several local media outlets reported that two Oregon children died from the flu during Christmas week. Health officials did not release any details about the children other than that they were under the age of 18, but urged residents to get vaccinated. Some social media users claimed that health officials and the media are fearmongering, while others expressed frustration at the lack of trust in vaccines.  

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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. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web pages and FAQs, and to inform strategy for messaging about vaccines.

Fearmongering about vaccine ingredients is an effective anti-vaccine tactic that fuels hesitancy. Debunking messaging may explain that every vaccine ingredient is there for a reason and is tested to ensure that it is safe. For example, aluminum boosts the effectiveness of vaccines without a safety risk. Thimerosal is a form of mercury that is completely harmless in low doses and helps prevent vaccine contamination. Graphene oxide can be used in sensors to detect HPV in the body, and cells collected from fetal tissue from the 1970s have been used for decades to develop many medicines. No vaccines contain graphene oxide or fetal cells.

Restricting public health entities from educating the public about the importance of vaccines may threaten public health in Louisiana and beyond. Messaging may highlight evidence that public health promotion of vaccines, including public service announcements and routine reminders, can increase vaccine uptake. Messaging may also explain that vaccine-preventable diseases are not “individual” concerns because they can spread from person to person, putting everyone at risk.

The narrative that bird flu vaccines are deadly misrepresents real clinical trial data, which may make them appear more valid and undermine confidence in vaccines. Although the claim is based on clinical trial data, it omits that the deaths during the trial were not related to the vaccine. All bird flu vaccines on the market have been tested for safety.

Interested in recommendations tailored to health care providers? Click here.