HHS funding of mRNA flu vaccines fuels anti-vaccine debate
Plus, vaccine posts discuss exemptions and cancer myths. Regional conversations discuss childhood vaccines, edible vaccines, and the “quad-demic.”
Plus, vaccine posts discuss exemptions and cancer myths. Regional conversations discuss childhood vaccines, edible vaccines, and the “quad-demic.”
This week, flu vaccine development, school immunization requirements, and COVID-19 safety were criticized online. Vaccine opponents harshly criticized the Department of Health and Human Services’ funding of mRNA flu vaccines while applauding West Virginia’s governor for allowing religious exemptions for school vaccinations. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times owner voiced support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and falsely suggested that COVID-19 vaccines may be linked to cancer.
Regionally, online vaccine discussions focused on pediatric flu and measles cases, the alleged introduction of vaccines into the food supply, and what people have coined the “quad-demic,” or the simultaneous circulation of four infectious diseases.
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What’s trending nationally in vaccine conversation:
On January 17, HHS announced a $590 million award to Moderna to accelerate the development of mRNA-based vaccines against potential pandemic flu viruses, including H5N1. The announcement sparked conversation in vaccine opponent circles who claim that mRNA vaccines are unsafe. Some social media responses decried the award for “funding our own demise” and repeated the myth that mRNA vaccines cause cancer. Other posts questioned if a bird flu vaccine is necessary, claimed no vaccines are safe or necessary, and declared that they will not get the vaccine. One social media user said they hope the Trump administration cancels the contract on “day one.”
On January 14, West Virginia’s governor issued an executive order permitting religious exemptions for school vaccinations. The state was one of only five states to prohibit all nonmedical exemptions and currently has the highest childhood immunization rates in the country. The governor cited a 2023 law that prohibits excessive government restrictions on religious practices as the basis for the order. Health officials and health care providers expressed concern that the exemptions could make the state more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable outbreaks. Some social media users criticized the decision as “ignorant” and dangerous to the children in West Virginia, while others celebrated the decision as “great news” and “moving in the right direction.” A lawyer who is known for suing states over vaccine requirements—and who made headlines for previously petitioning the FDA to withdraw approval of the polio vaccine—called for other states to follow suit.
In a recent interview, the owner of the Los Angeles Times insinuated without evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and may be linked to rising cancer rates. While speaking about COVID-19 vaccine safety, he claimed, again without evidence, that children are getting and dying from colon and metastatic pancreatic cancers, stating that we have to face “reality.” He also expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claiming that he “knows more about the science than most doctors.” Some media users cheered the comments and claimed that he was radicalized by COVID-19 vaccines “giving” children cancer.
Read the fact checks:
- Public Good News: Dispelling myths about mRNA vaccines
- Global Vaccine Data Network: ‘Turbo Cancer’ and mRNA: The myth that defies biology and physics
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials: The Impact of Non-Medical Vaccine Exemptions on Childhood Vaccination Rates
What’s happening in the Northeast:
On January 18, Rhode Island reported its first measles case since 2019 in an unvaccinated child who recently traveled internationally. Risk to the public is considered to be low as the child did not have contact with others through school or daycare. Health officials are conducting contact tracing to determine if others may have been exposed. In response to local news reports about the case, some social media users expressed frustration with people who don’t vaccinate their children and questioned why an unvaccinated child was allowed to travel internationally, while others accused health officials of fearmongering and blamed immigrants for disease outbreaks.
What’s happening in the South:
A Florida state senator introduced legislation to require food containing vaccines or “vaccine materials” be labeled. The proposed legislation is similar to a Tennessee bill introduced last year. Both bills are based on a misrepresentation of research at the University of California, Riverside, that explores the production of mRNA vaccines in vegetables. False and misleading claims about this and other edible vaccine research have circulated for over two years despite being repeatedly debunked. Some social media users expressed concern about vaccines in the food supply, indicating that they misunderstand that these experiments are in very early stages and still many years from entering the food supply—if they ever do. Some comments called for a ban on all mRNA technology rather than just labeling food.
What’s happening in the Midwest:
On January 16, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported the state’s first pediatric flu-related death of the 2024-2025 season. The death brings the national pediatric flu death total to 16 this season. Health officials emphasized the importance of flu vaccination, particularly for young children, older adults, and individuals with chronic health conditions. The announcement drew mixed reactions on social media as some users falsely attributed the death to the flu vaccine despite having no evidence for the claim and falsely claimed that the vaccine is unsafe. Other posts encouraged parents to prioritize vaccinating their children to avoid preventable deaths.
What’s happening in the West:
Local news outlets in California reported on the “quad-demic,” the circulation of four infectious diseases in the state: COVID-19, flu, RSV, and norovirus. Many social media users responded to the reports by sharing experiences of dealing with the illnesses and encouraging vaccination to protect yourself and your family. Some noted that the flu was especially “brutal” this year. Others spread conspiracy theories about vaccines causing the illness, while others claimed that disease outbreaks “prove” that vaccines don’t work.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
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.
Widespread distrust in vaccines that protect against future pandemics could have devastating public health impacts. Prebunking messaging may explain that with current bird flu outbreaks and the high likelihood of a flu pandemic in the future, funding new flu vaccines is a matter of public health and one of HHS’s responsibilities. An mRNA-based flu vaccine has the potential to be more effective and capable of protecting against more flu strains. Debunking messaging may emphasize that mRNA vaccines are safe and based on decades of research.
The West Virginia executive order allowing exemptions from school vaccinations on “religious” grounds is an example of policy and rhetoric that may weaken public trust in routine vaccines. Messaging may highlight research showing that higher rates of nonmedical exemptions are associated with lower immunization and a higher risk of outbreaks. Messaging may also emphasize that school immunization requirements keep children safe and reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable outbreaks. Explaining that every major religion supports the use of vaccines is recommended.
Anti-vaccine activists have attempted to link vaccines to cancer for decades with no evidence to back up their claims. Debunking messaging may explain that over four years of scientific research and rigorous safety monitoring worldwide show no association between any COVID-19 vaccine and cancer diagnosis, progression, recurrence, or death. Claims that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cause or accelerate cancer are an anti-vaccine myth with no basis in reality.
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