On March 9, the CDC issued a warning about travel to 32 countries where poliovirus has been detected in the last 13 months. The alert encourages international travelers to ensure they are up to date on polio vaccination and notes that fully vaccinated adults may receive a booster dose. Online responses to the warning focused primarily on the safety and effectiveness of polio vaccines. Many posts emphasized the importance of routine vaccination, noting that the risk of outbreaks increases when vaccination rates decline. Several posts claimed that polio vaccines are unsafe and opposed universal vaccination.
Recommendation
Misleading claims about the safety of polio vaccines fuel hesitancy and low vaccine uptake, allowing polioviruses to continue spreading globally. Health communicators may explain that vaccination is the only way to prevent polio and that vaccines protect against all forms of the disease. Messaging may also explain how vaccines protect children and communities and why vaccines are considered safe.
Fact-checking sources: CNN, Public Good Projects
Communication resources: Read more talking points about pediatric immunization
