A new vaccine against Lyme disease was found to be over 70 percent effective in a clinical trial and may soon be reviewed for approval in the U.S. and Europe. In response to the news, many social media users discussed the expansion of tick populations due to climate change. However, many viral videos promoted the conspiracy theory that tick populations have increased because the vaccine’s manufacturer released boxes of ticks into the wild to create a need for the vaccine. There is no evidence to support these claims. Other posts falsely claimed that the vaccine, which targets a protein in the bacteria that causes lyme disease, is mRNA-based and repeated myths about mRNA vaccine safety.
Recommendation
Online conversations may highlight potential concerns or confusion the public has about new vaccines. If unaddressed, these gaps in information may fuel the spread of false claims and hesitancy. Health communicators may explain how Lyme disease spreads, the risks of untreated infection, and the effectiveness of the vaccine based on preliminary evidence. Prebunking messaging may emphasize that the new Lyme vaccine, like all vaccines, has undergone years of rigorous safety testing, including clinical trials, before approval. Continuing to explain how different types of vaccines work and how we know they are safe is recommended, as is highlighting the evidence that mRNA vaccines are safe.
