Misinformation about routine vaccines continues circulating online, fueling hesitancy and resistance to vaccines. Messaging may emphasize that measles killed millions of children annually before the introduction of the vaccine in 1963. The five years following the vaccine’s introduction saw a nearly 95 percent decline in the measles death rate in the U.S. The measle vaccine has dramatically reduced measles infections and deaths worldwide, saving millions of lives. However, measles outbreaks still occur in regions with low vaccination rates, such as the recent outbreak in Ohio that affected dozens of unvaccinated children.

Fact Checking Source(s): Infectious Diseases Society of America, GAVI, College of Physicians of Philadelphia

The persistence of this misinformation increases its risk. Some early batches of the polio vaccine were contaminated with SV40. The virus can cause cancer in rodents, but there is no evidence that it causes cancer in humans. No polio vaccine administered since 1963 has contained SV40 contamination. Messaging may continue to emphasize key talking points: The polio vaccine is safe and the only way to eradicate polio.

Fact Checking Source(s): Health Feedback, FactCheck.org

These false claims about mRNA vaccines are persistent and widespread, which raises their risk. Debunking messaging may explain that the mRNA in vaccines can not enter the cell nucleus and does not interact with or alter genetic material in any way. The safety of COVID-19 vaccines has been rigorously studied in millions of people worldwide for over three years with no evidence of widespread health issues. Emphasizing that there are no plans to put vaccines in food or use vaccinated or genetically engineered livestock to deliver vaccines is recommended. Prebunking messaging may also explain that vaccines have been used for decades to prevent the spread of devastating infectious diseases in livestock. These vaccines are not transmitted through meat or dairy products.

Fact Checking Source(s): AP News, Reuters, AFP

The persistence of this misinformation increases its risk. Debunking messaging may explain that there is no link between vaccines and SIDS. The condition’s exact cause is unknown, but numerous studies have shown that SIDS occurs at the same rate in vaccinated and unvaccinated children and has not increased with higher vaccination rates. Anti-vaccine groups have attempted for decades to falsely link various childhood vaccines to sudden infant death syndrome, despite evidence conclusively showing no link between the condition and any vaccine.

Fact Checking Source(s): Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, CDC

The persistence of the misinformation increases its risk. Debunking messaging may explain that the study in question is not actually a study but an abstract of preliminary, non-peer reviewed data presented at a conference in 2000. Far from being concealed, the full transcript of the presentation is available online. During the presentation, the lead researcher explained that there were irregularities in data collection, including inconsistencies in age at vaccination and the types and combination of vaccines the children received. Emphasizing that, even at this early stage, the data showed no link between thimerosal exposure and autism is recommended. Three years after the conference, the full study was published in a peer-reviewed journal and found no link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and any developmental disorders. Prebunking messaging may also emphasize that no childhood vaccine in use since 2001 contains thimerosal.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• Forbes, Majikthise (investigative journalist Lindsay Beyerstein), NIH