Florida lawsuit blames contaminated vaccine needles for infection outbreak

In South Florida, over a dozen parents filed a lawsuit after their children suffered from infections following vaccination appointments in summer 2021. The children were of varying ages and received different vaccines, but all went to the same doctor. While the actual cause of the infection is unknown, parents are suing both the pharmaceutical company that potentially distributed contaminated needles and the doctor for potentially being the source of contamination. In response to this story, some social media users expressed concerns about needle contamination, while others claimed the vaccines themselves could have caused the children’s infections.

Risk level: Medium

Recommendation: These kinds of events may promote vaccine hesitancy among parents who are considering routine vaccinations for their children. It is recommended doctors in Florida be prepared for questions about childhood vaccine safety. Messaging may emphasize that vaccines for children are safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from vaccine-preventable diseases. The CDC continues recommending vaccination for children.