Florida surgeon general discourages COVID-19 vaccination

This week, myths about “turbo cancer” and childhood vaccine safety reemerged online. Vaccine hesitancy linked to COVID-19 vaccines dominated regional conversations.

Florida’s surgeon general released another statement contradicting federal COVID-19 vaccination guidance, this time advising against updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including for high-risk older adults. Earlier this year, the official called to suspend the use of mRNA vaccines due to unsubstantiated safety concerns. Meanwhile, several persistent myths resurfaced online, with viral posts falsely linking COVID-19 vaccines to cancer and claiming without evidence that routine childhood vaccines are unnecessary and unsafe. 

Regional vaccine conversations highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic response continues to fuel misinformation and hesitancy about all vaccines.

---

What’s trending nationally in vaccine conversation:

On September 12, the Florida Department of Health issued updated guidance advising against the use of updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, contradicting federal health officials. The guidance claims that updated vaccines have not been tested properly for safety and effectiveness, highlights several rare adverse events, and repeats the myth that mRNA vaccines can potentially alter DNA. Notably, the Florida surgeon general recommends that patients who are at high risk from COVID-19 be directed toward non-mRNA vaccines and make lifestyle changes like improving diet and exercise to reduce the risk of severe illness. The letter does not, however, mention Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine or explain what non-mRNA vaccines are available. 

Early last week, an old video clip of two actors—who have previously expressed anti-vaccine beliefs—discussing the childhood immunization schedule went viral on multiple social media platforms. The most popular post sharing the clip has been viewed more than 5.5 million times and garnered over 100,000 engagements. In the clip, the actors question the number of vaccines that infants and children receive. Several posts shared misleading images claiming to show 72 vaccine doses that children receive before age 6. The image includes prenatal vaccines and all recommended vaccines through age 18 and counts each annual flu shot individually. Several posts call routine vaccines “poison” and blame them, without evidence, for SIDS.

The anti-vaccine figure who popularized the myth that COVID-19 vaccines cause turbo cancer claims in a recent post that all new cancer patients are under 45 and that a “turbo cancer tsunami” is affecting younger patients. The post misattributes a quote to a “top oncologist,” falsely claiming that he stated that all of his new patients are under 45 and deceptively insinuates that oncologists linked the younger cancer diagnoses to COVID-19 vaccines. Several popular anti-vaccine accounts shared the article, falsely claiming that “surging” cancer rates are linked to COVID-19 vaccines. The post references and misquotes an August article by an oncologist who speculates that poor diet is a major risk factor for cancer in younger adults. The article never mentions COVID-19 vaccines or turbo cancer, which isn’t accepted medical terminology. Additionally, the anti-vaccine post cites three studies, all of which assess cancer data that predates the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the fact checks: 

• Tampa Bay Times: Experts refute latest Florida guidance on COVID vaccine as flawed and dangerous 
• AAP: Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence 
• Logically Facts: No, there have been no ‘turbo cancers’ detected as a result of COVID-19 vaccines

---

What’s happening in the Northeast:

A local public news outlet reported on community-based organizations in Rhode Island working to increase vaccine uptake amid widespread vaccine misinformation and an end of federal funding for uninsured and low-income residents. The article highlights community health workers’ efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy as COVID-19 vaccine misinformation impacts the acceptance of other vaccines like the tetanus shot. Some social media users expressed distaste with the fact that some of the state’s vaccination efforts are funded by Merck, while others claimed that the federal government “lied” about COVID-19 vaccines, making them distrust all vaccines.

What’s happening in the South:

A controversial physician who was previously suspended and formally disciplined for promoting false claims about COVID-19 vaccines is circulating a letter from the Houston Independent School District encouraging students and parents to get vaccinated due to rising COVID-19 levels detected in wastewater. The post received nearly 1,000 responses, most complaining about officials continuing to promote COVID-19 vaccination. Many posts appeared unfamiliar with how wastewater surveillance is used in disease monitoring, with some mocking the practice and suggesting that students can avoid infection by not drinking wastewater. One response from a prominent anti-vaccine account falsely claimed that vaccines create new COVID-19 variants.

What’s happening in the Midwest:

A new Ohio State University survey highlights hesitancy around fall vaccines, including those against the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumonia. The survey found that more than a third of people who got one or more of the vaccines in the past did not plan to get any this year. Additionally, while a slight majority of respondents say they plan to get a flu vaccine this year, only 43 percent plan to get an updated vaccine against COVID-19. Vaccine hesitancy was lowest among older adults. These survey findings echoed the sentiments of social media users who say they refused fall vaccines when offered at recent doctor visits. Some users stated that COVID-19 vaccine mandates eroded their trust in public health institutions.

What’s happening in the West:

The Alaska Department of Health reports 215 confirmed whooping cough cases this year, the state’s largest outbreak of the disease in over a decade. Health officials encouraged parents to vaccinate their children, get tested if they have any concerns, and report positive cases to their school to reduce the risk of outbreaks. While many social media users urged others to get vaccinated and keep their sick kids at home, others claimed that no one trusts vaccines anymore because of COVID-19 vaccines.

---

Talking points for public health professionals 

Each week, 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 to inform strategy for messaging about vaccines.

A high-profile state health official discouraging COVID-19 vaccination and promoting misleading and false claims about mRNA vaccine safety may hamper vaccine uptake among older adults and other high-risk populations. Messaging may explain that, like annual flu vaccines, updated COVID-19 vaccines are a better match for currently circulating variants and getting an updated vaccine will help to protect people against severe illness, hospitalization, long COVID, and death. Talking points may emphasize that all approved COVID-19 vaccines—mRNA-based and otherwise—are safe and effective and that Novavax’s vaccine may be a good option for individuals seeking non-mRNA vaccines. Debunking messaging may highlight the four years of research and monitoring that have found no widespread safety concerns related to mRNA vaccines and emphasize that there is no scientific basis for claims that DNA in vaccines can alter a recipient’s DNA. 

Vaccine opponents have targeted recommended childhood immunization schedules for decades. Talking points may highlight that recommended immunization schedules are not requirements. Prebunking messaging may explain that immunization reduces the impact of infectious diseases on individuals and communities. Decades of research and monitoring have conclusively shown that the risks associated with childhood vaccination are exceedingly low and are far outweighed by the benefits of vaccination to prevent potentially debilitating and deadly diseases. Messaging may also emphasize that there’s no link between vaccines and SIDS and that vaccinated and unvaccinated infants experience SIDS at the same rates.

False and misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety generally and mRNA vaccine safety specifically may impact the acceptance of existing and future vaccines. Highlighting how anti-vaccine advocates have attempted to link various vaccines to cancer for decades with no evidence to support the claims is recommended. Debunking messaging may explain that turbo cancer is a myth made up by vaccine opponents that has no basis in medical science. Messaging may also emphasize that four years of research have found no increase in cancer risk following COVID-19 vaccination.

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