Vaccine opponents continue to promote misinformation about the use of mRNA vaccines in livestock. Trending posts in English and Spanish falsely claim that farmers will be required to use mRNA vaccines in their livestock and that mRNA vaccines are “gene altering.” One post claims that the U.S. pork industry has concealed its use of mRNA vaccines since 2018, while another features a supposed farmer claiming that animals don’t need vaccines.
The widespread nature of this claim increases its risk. Debunking messaging may emphasize that livestock vaccination to prevent disease outbreaks is not new. In fact, it’s one of the oldest forms of vaccination, dating back to the 1700s. Explaining that the U.S. doesn’t require meat producers to use any vaccine for their livestock, and no mRNA vaccines are approved for use in cattle is recommended. Some pork producers choose to use mRNA vaccines that have been rigorously tested for safety. Like all livestock vaccines, mRNA vaccines are not transmitted through meat products. Messaging may also explain that the mRNA in vaccines can’t survive inside the body for extended periods and breaks down long before the animals enter the food supply. Information about the development and use of these vaccines has been publicly available for years.
