In an April 30 interview, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted the myth that the MMR vaccine contains “a lot of aborted fetus debris.” Vaccine opponents responded by spreading the false claim, which is a long-disproven anti-vaccine talking point. Kennedy’s comment comes as the U.S. measles outbreak nears 1,000 infections. Social media posts speculated that political support for abortion is a cover to harvest fetal tissue and argued against vaccination for religious reasons.
Recommendation
Anti-vaccine advocates have falsely claimed for decades that vaccines contain fetal tissue to make people believe that vaccination is unsafe or immoral. Debunking messaging may emphasize that while fetal cell lines from tissue collected in the 1970s may be used when testing vaccines and other drugs, no vaccine contains fetal cells. Messaging may explain that all vaccine ingredients are safe and well-tested.
Fact-checking sources: The Conversation, Health.com
