Video of alleged vaccine injury story goes viral

Conversations about a newly approved at-home flu vaccine and unverified claims of COVID-19 vaccine mixups trended online this week. Whooping cough and declining childhood immunization dominated regional discussions.

This week, videos of a woman who claims to have suffered severe vaccine-related injuries are trending, with millions of views across social media platforms. Vaccine opponents are using the story to question vaccine safety and mandates. Meanwhile, the FDA’s approval of the at-home, self-administration of an existing nasal spray flu vaccine has sparked conversations about vaccine accessibility and safety. Finally, stories about people who allegedly received the wrong COVID-19 vaccine are circulating online.

Regional vaccine conversations focused on whooping cough outbreaks, boosting childhood immunization, health professionals who spread false health claims, and COVID-19 vaccine access.

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What’s trending nationally in vaccine conversation:

A woman with the rare blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) claims that vaccinations required before her treatment triggered severe symptoms of the disease, including abnormal blood clotting and skin discoloration. The woman claims in a series of videos she was required to get DTaP (which is administered to children, while adults receive Tdap), pneumococcal, and meningococcal vaccines before receiving treatment. In the videos, she also indicates that her family is anti-vaccine, that she had never received a vaccine before age 23, and that prior to the flare-up, she had refused treatment for her condition, which can be fatal. Some PNH treatments cannot be administered to people who haven’t received certain vaccines because the treatments drastically increase the risk of getting these infections, which can be life-threatening to PNH patients. Additionally, medical records that the woman released confirm that when her flare-up occurred, she had a viral infection that is known to trigger severe PNH symptoms. Vaccine opponents are circulating the story with images of the woman’s symptoms, claiming it is proof that vaccines are dangerous and shouldn’t be mandated. Some people also appear to falsely suggest that the woman developed PNH after being vaccinated, despite her saying she was diagnosed months before. The story is spreading rapidly online, with the videos receiving millions of views across multiple social media and video streaming platforms. 

On September 20, the FDA approved the nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist for self-administration or caregiver administration for individuals 2 to 49, the first vaccine that can be administered without a health care provider. The self-administered vaccine won’t be available until at least next flu season. Coverage and discussion of the vaccine have been largely positive, with some calling it a big win for public health and celebrating that improved accessibility may increase vaccine uptake. Some vaccine opponents have criticized the approval, claiming that the vaccine isn’t safe and “sheds a bunch.” One post accuses AstraZeneca, the company that makes FluMist, of trying to make up for money lost from its COVID-19 vaccine. News coverage of the FDA approval has also been misleading, as some headlines suggest that the vaccine will be available for self-administration this flu season. Vaccine opponents are already attempting to smear the safety and effectiveness of the self-administered vaccine. These attacks will likely increase when the vaccine becomes available.

On multiple social media platforms, people are sharing stories of being “secretly” given mRNA COVID-19 vaccines after requesting the protein-based Novavax vaccine. Several posts warn people to check before accepting a vaccine, while others suggest suing the pharmacies for malpractice. A few posts insinuate that mRNA vaccines are being forced on people. Most threads on the topic repeated false claims that the Novavax vaccine is safer because it is a “traditional” vaccine. The posts, which are circulating among COVID-19-conscious people who are likely to get vaccinated, highlight the potentially widespread belief that Novavax is safer than or superior to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Read the fact checks: 

• Lead Stories: Fact Check: No evidence video shows Alexis Lorenze suffering typical reaction to DTaP, meningitis, pneumonia vaccines 
• Yale Medicine: Comparing the COVID-19 Vaccines: How Are They Different?
• Live Science: At-home flu vaccine approved by FDA — what to know

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What’s happening in the Northeast:

A panel of New Jersey lawmakers approved a bill that would allow professional boards to penalize health care providers who spread health misinformation. If enacted, health professionals who make health-related claims that are “false and contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus” could face misconduct charges. Critics of the bill argue that scientific consensus changes over time and is not always easy to interpret. Other critics assert that the law is unconstitutional, noting that a similar law in California was blocked and ultimately repealed because of questions about its constitutionality. 

What’s happening in the South:

A September 15 article explored the challenges and successes of improving childhood immunization rates in Louisville, Kentucky, amid national declines. The article highlighted the state’s and city’s short-lived bump in immunization in the 2022 - 2023 school year due to make-up vaccination campaigns. However, rates declined the following year, a symptom of broader challenges facing immunization efforts nationwide, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation, and barriers to health care access. Some social media users dismissed the article as “big pharma propaganda” and argued in favor of “parental rights.”

What’s happening in the Midwest:

Health officials across the Midwest are sounding the alarm about rising whooping cough cases in the region, particularly among unvaccinated teens. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported a tenfold increase in cases this year, nearly half in adolescents ages 11 to 18. Whooping cough cases in Nebraska have nearly tripled so far in 2024 compared to all of 2023. News of the rising cases sparked debate on social media about legal action against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. Some online users expressed concerns that exemptions for vaccinations required for enrollment in school and daycare may be contributing to the spike in cases. Wisconsin’s vaccine exemption rate is more than twice the national median.

What’s happening in the West:

Beginning in October, California will extend its free COVID-19 vaccine program for uninsured or underinsured residents. The program will provide vaccines to individuals who would have been covered by the federal Bridge Access Program, a free vaccine program that ended in August. Although health officials and local media are promoting the program, it has garnered little attention on social media.

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Talking points for Health Care Providers

Each week the Infodemiology.com team will provide talking points and supporting messages in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. Health care providers can use this messaging when discussing vaccines online, talking to patients, or engaging with communities. 

Routine vaccines are safe and the best protection against potentially deadly diseases. Serious vaccine reactions are extremely rare and need to be verified by health authorities. 

• There is no evidence of any connection between the woman’s condition and any vaccine. The woman’s statements and medical records show that she had an existing, untreated disease that a viral infection may have triggered.
• Health authorities carefully monitor potential adverse effects of vaccines, and it’s up to medical professionals to determine if any adverse events have occurred. Along with numerous public health and medical experts who have disputed the claim, the CDC stated that there is no record of any vaccine triggering the types of symptoms described in the videos.
• Vaccinations are important for everyone. For people undergoing treatments that weaken their immune system or otherwise make them more susceptible to disease, vaccines are a lifesaving necessity that may even be required before certain treatments.

A nasal spray flu vaccine was just approved for at-home use, but won’t be available until next flu season at the earliest.

• FluMist is a nasal spray flu vaccine and the only non-injected flu vaccine available. The vaccine is very effective and may be a good option for people under 50 who want to avoid needles. 
• The vaccine has been on the market for more than two decades without serious safety concerns. 
• A recent FDA approval will allow FluMist to be administered at home without a health care provider for people 2 to 49. The change will make flu vaccination more convenient and accessible for those who are eligible.

All approved COVID-19 vaccines—whether mRNA- or protein-based—are great options to protect against COVID-19. 

• Novavax is the only non-mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine currently available in the U.S. The updated Novavax vaccine, like updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, is designed to fight currently circulating COVID-19 variants. 
• The three COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. are rigorously tested and monitored for safety, with no evidence of widespread health concerns.
• There are no bad options among approved COVID-19 vaccines. Some people prefer Novavax because they believe it is a more “traditional” vaccine. However, mRNA vaccines can be updated to match new variants faster and more easily than protein-based vaccines.

Interested in recommendations tailored to public health professionals? Click here.