Viral post claims that childhood vaccines are unsafe and unnecessary

A widely-circulated blog post falsely claims that routine childhood vaccines have few benefits and many serious side effects. The article argues that vaccines are unnecessary because childhood diseases are no longer a threat and repeats myths about the safety of many vaccines.

Recommendation: Trending conversations about recommended vaccines for children provide an opportunity to educate target populations on the importance and safety of childhood vaccinations. Messaging may emphasize that decades of research support the safety and importance of childhood vaccines and have consistently shown no link between any vaccine and serious safety concerns. As recent measles, whooping cough, and mumps outbreaks have shown, drops in routine immunization coverage pose a real threat, especially to infants and those who can’t be safely vaccinated. Continuing to reiterate that vaccines have higher safety standards than almost any medical intervention and that all vaccines undergo rigorous safety trials is recommended.