Misleading claims spread after a Texas child dies of measles

This week, data supporting pediatric COVID-19 vaccine efficacy caused mixed reactions, and a canceled FDA meeting sparked fears about flu vaccine access. Anti-vaccine bills and ongoing measles outbreaks dominated regional conversations.

This week, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. caused confusion and fueled false claims when he recommended vitamin A and good nutrition, in addition to vaccination, to prevent measles. The recommendation led some to believe that federal health agencies may change their stance on vaccines. Adding to that concern, a second federal vaccine advisory meeting was canceled following the postponement of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting. Meanwhile, new research further proved that COVID-19 vaccines are effective and safe for children and adolescents. 

Regional posts discussed anti-vaccine legislation in multiple states and a measles case in Seattle.

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What’s trending nationally in vaccine conversation:

The measles outbreak in Texas and neighboring New Mexico is fueling myths and conspiracy theories about the disease and the MMR vaccine. As of March 4, one death, 159 infections, and 22 hospitalizations have been reported in Texas, including five cases in vaccinated individuals. Since January, the U.S. has reported nearly two-thirds of all the measles cases recorded last year. Additionally, the child’s death in Texas is the first U.S. measles death in a decade and only the third since 2003. After initially downplaying the outbreak as “not unusual,” Kennedy has since issued a “call to action” in an op-ed that encouraged vaccination as a “personal choice” and claimed that good nutrition is the “best defense” against infectious diseases. Kennedy promoted vitamin A supplementation to treat measles, leading some to falsely suggest that vitamin A can prevent measles infections. Some vaccine opponents—including a prominent anti-vaccine organization that Kennedy founded and formerly chaired—have speculated without evidence that the Texas outbreak was caused by a vaccine-derived measles virus, a claim that Texas health officials have conclusively disproved. Many social media users minimized the severity of measles as “just a rash,” accused the media of “fearmongering,” and encouraged so-called “measles parties” to intentionally expose unvaccinated children to measles. 

On February 27, the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee meeting to select the viral strains for next season’s flu vaccine was canceled with no explanation or indication that the meeting would be rescheduled. The VRBPAC meeting, which was originally scheduled for March 13, is held every March to make recommendations for vaccine manufacturers to develop the vaccines in time for the flu season in the fall. Committee members, public health experts, and social media users expressed concern that the meeting’s cancellation may delay flu vaccine development and impact vaccine access. Some posts expressed fear that the FDA will not back a flu vaccine this season. Several anti-vaccine accounts celebrated the news and used it as an opportunity to promote false claims about flu vaccine safety, including the myth that vaccination makes people more susceptible to the flu. News of the meeting’s cancellation comes amid reports of a rare, severe flu complication known as influenza-associated encephalitis (IAE), which causes brain inflammation. According to a February 27 CDC report, 13 percent of children who died from the flu this season had the condition. The report received considerable news coverage due to flu activity in the U.S. being at its highest level in 15 years. However, vaccine opponents dismissed the news as “fearmongering,” promoted unproven “natural” vaccine alternatives, and alleged that COVID-19 vaccines cause IAE.

A February 19 article in a British tabloid fueled speculation that the Trump administration plans to ban mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The article highlights the anti-vaccine beliefs of key members of the administration’s health team but does not provide evidence of any actual policy or plans to ban the vaccines. Several high-profile anti-vaccine figures circulated the article and claimed without evidence that the vaccines are linked to excess death. Social media users also discussed a failed Montana bill and a proposed Kentucky bill attempting to ban mRNA vaccines. Several commenters claimed that mRNA vaccines are “destructive and lethal.”

A February 24 JAMA Network Open study found a 57 percent to 73 percent reduction in long COVID risk among children and adolescents who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. A second JAMA study found that sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes did not increase during the first three years of the pandemic. Although most of the online discussion about the research was positive and emphasized the importance of vaccinating children, some posts were more negative. Several social media users alleged, contrary to evidence, that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not safe for children and expressed distrust of COVID-19 vaccines. One post linked distrust in COVID-19 vaccines to more general anti-vaccine sentiments and the ongoing measles outbreak that has primarily affected unvaccinated children.

Read the fact checks: 

• AFP: Vaccine misinformation rife amid US measles outbreak
• Johns Hopkins: The Science of Vaccine Safety in the U.S. 
• CDC: 6 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccination for Children

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What’s happening in the Northeast:

On March 6, the New Hampshire Senate will vote on a bill to dissolve a state organization that buys low-cost vaccines in bulk to ensure universal vaccine access for children. Supporters of the legislation argue that it won’t impact vaccine access because providers can purchase their own inventory. Critics expressed concern that the bill will make free and low-cost vaccines less available, which may impact vaccination rates. Many commenters called to protect the program, while others alleged that all vaccines are “poison” and claimed children receive too many vaccines. Several posts pointed to the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas as evidence of the dangers of reducing vaccine access and uptake.

What’s happening in the South:

Several state bills related to vaccine policies and public health mandates advanced in Southern state legislatures. A proposed bill in Alabama would ban county health departments from promoting vaccines, arguing they should remain “neutral” on medical decisions. Critics of the bill call it government overreach and accuse lawmakers of pandering to anti-vaccine advocates. A Georgia bill would prohibit discrimination against organ transplant candidates based on COVID-19 vaccination status. Supporters argue vaccination should never have been required to receive transplants, while critics expressed concern that it could deter potential organ donors and reduce transplant survival rates, as transplant recipients are at high risk of severe COVID-19 infections. The West Virginia House is set to vote on a bill to allow religious and personal belief exemptions for school entry. The bill has gained support from people who claim it prioritizes personal choice.

What’s happening in the Midwest:

An Iowa bill seeking to ban the use of so-called “gene-based vaccines” has been amended to focus on vaccine manufacturers following public backlash. The bill would have imposed a $500 fine per violation on doctors and nurses who administered mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Critics of the bill argued that it was based on pseudoscience and called it a “malicious attack on…bodily autonomy.” The amended legislation would block the use of vaccines unless manufacturers waive all legal immunity.

What’s happening in the West:

On February 27, Seattle health officials issued a health alert after an infant in King County was diagnosed with measles following an international trip. Only 72 percent of children in the state have received their second MMR dose. Some online commenters attempted to downplay how severe and contagious measles is, while others advocated for immunity from infection rather than from vaccination. Several posts speculated that the case is a plot to remove religious vaccine exemptions, that measles isn’t caused by a virus, and that the case was caused by the MMR vaccine. Many social media users expressed frustration at the anti-vaccine movement and highlighted the risk of a measles infection.

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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.

False claims about MMR vaccine safety during an active measles outbreak could discourage people from getting vaccinated and negatively impact efforts to contain disease spread. Debunking messaging may explain that Texas health officials have tested all measles virus samples and determined that the infections were caused by a naturally occurring measles virus. Messaging may also emphasize that Vitamin A does not prevent measles infections and is not a substitute for vaccination. Emphasizing that vaccination is safe, 97 percent effective against measles infection, and the only way to prevent measles is recommended.

Disruptions to established federal vaccine processes may affect whether and when routine vaccines—including flu, RSV, and meningococcal vaccines—are available to the public. Messaging may explain the established safety of routine vaccines and highlight the many stages of safety testing and monitoring that all vaccines undergo. Continuing to emphasize that routine vaccinations are the best way to avoid preventable infections is recommended.

Some people incorrectly believe that COVID-19 vaccines aren’t important for children and teens, resulting in low pediatric vaccine uptake. Messaging may explain that recent research provides further evidence that COVID-19 vaccination reduces long COVID risk in children and teens. Messaging may also emphasize that vaccines don’t cause long COVID, as evidenced by reports of long COVID that predate COVID-19 vaccines by nearly a year and of vaccination reducing long COVID risk.

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