A new study resurfaced the debunked myth that vaccines cause SIDS. The analysis of previous studies, which was authored by two individuals with no vaccine expertise, claims to have found that infant levels of an enzyme called CYP450 prevent them from properly metabolizing certain vaccine ingredients, causing brain stem failure and SIDS. The study presents no evidence that vaccines cause SIDS or are linked to SIDS in any way. A press release about the study recommends supplements for infants as well as for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals. Notably, one of the study’s authors is an “independent researcher” who has co-published numerous studies with an anti-vaccine journalist, claiming that vaccines are unsafe. The other chairs an alternative medicine organization that promotes therapeutic vitamins and supplements. Many anti-vaccine blogs and social media accounts are sharing the study as a “bombshell” that “proves” that vaccines cause SIDS. One popular post claims that SIDS is a “planned vaccine extermination of infants.”
Recommendation
Health communicators may emphasize that the claim is not from a credible source. The study’s authors have no expertise in the field and have ties to anti-vaccine and alternative medicine organizations. Debunking messaging may explain that decades of research show that there is no link between SIDS and any vaccine. The condition affects vaccinated and unvaccinated infants at the same rate, and some evidence suggests that vaccinated infants are at lower risk of SIDS.
Fact-checking sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, CHOP
