Video Claims Government Will Take Children From Unvaccinated Parents

A video with more than 1 million engagements on social media features a person spreading an unfounded rumor that the government will take children away from parents who refuse to be vaccinated. The claim seems to be based on a story about a Chicago mother whose custody was temporarily revoked because she was unvaccinated. The ruling was roundly criticized and the judge overturned the decision, restoring the mother’s custody rights. There is no evidence to support the claim that the government will strip parental rights from unvaccinated parents. Anti-vaccine organizations are capitalizing on the fears of unvaccinated parents, and stoking them, by circulating materials with instructions on how to interact with Child Protective Services so as not to lose custody of children. 

Recommendation: Passive Response Read More +

Sign Up for Public Health Alerts

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