Washington bill sparks concerns about vaccine safety

Washington passed a bill that defines a vaccine as any FDA-approved immunization recommended by the CDC. Some social media users are expressing concerns that this definition is too broad. Others are questioning whether or not COVID-19 vaccines should be considered vaccines at all, as they do not provide full immunity. 

Risk level: Medium

Recommendation: Social media posts questioning whether or not COVID-19 vaccines should be considered vaccines may discourage patients in Washington from getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine. They may also promote vaccine hesitancy among patients throughout the U.S. who encounter these posts. Talking points may emphasize that in order to receive FDA approval, vaccines undergo rigorous testing and monitoring to determine their safety and efficacy. FDA-approved vaccines may also undergo additional testing and long-term monitoring to further evaluate their effectiveness and to determine their risk for side effects. Vaccines have reduced preventable infectious diseases to an all-time low. Even though some vaccines—including COVID-19 vaccines—do not provide full immunity to the diseases they protect against, they do reduce the risk of contracting the diseases and prevent severe illness and death. The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 for everyone 6 months and older.