Anti-vaccine groups continue to coach on vaccine denial

Multiple TikTok videos are using the same voice over claiming to provide advice on how to legally decline a COVID-19 vaccine. The videos allege that outright refusal of the vaccine would be considered belligerent, instead suggesting that people should ask their physician if the vaccine contains MRC-5 (related to a debunked claim that vaccines contain aborted fetal tissues), or if it has a risk of causing an allergic reaction. Because physicians are bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm, the video claims that doctors will be forced to admit that COVID-19 vaccines contain MRC-5 and that they can cause adverse reactions, which will allow the individual to refuse a vaccine without being considered belligerent.

Recommendation: Passive Response Read More +

Sign Up for Public Health Alerts

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Us

The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) was formed in 2020 to coordinate and amplify public health messaging on COVID-19 and increase Americans’ confidence in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health officials.

Learn More

Recent Misinformation Alerts