Hello Fellow Netizens!
With less than 3 months until the Presidential Elections, Docnetizen will focus on health policy issues that receive the most attention from candidates to educate and inform you about why they matter. This article will focus exclusively on vaccines in the United States, how we as a society have dealt with misinformation in recent years, and what we should look for in the coming months from the presidential race.
Vaccinations in the United States: Overview
Americans, on the whole, have not been as adherent to vaccinations as we should be. Data from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) indicates stagnant vaccination rates in recent years; on average, about half of the nation received their annual flu shots between 2019 and 2023 (see below). Data from USAFacts indicates that as of May 2023, at least 81 percent of Americans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, with only 70 percent considered ‘fully vaccinated.’ While a full vaccination rate of around 70 percent may seem promising, these rates need to be much higher for our nation to achieve herd immunity and block the spread of COVID-19 (although the exact level of vaccination required for herd immunity is complex and nuanced).
Analysis from KFF also highlighted the gradual decline in childhood vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), which need to be at least 95 percent to achieve herd immunity. As you can see in the heat map below, at least eight states reported less than or equal to 90 percent coverage for MMR vaccines during the 2021-2022 school year, while the national average hovered at 93 percent. This is concerning, as measles is highly contagious and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and even death. There has been a rising trend in the number of reported cases of measles in the United States each year, with more than 100 cases reported as of April 2024. These cases are only expected to increase as school starts in the fall. It is important to note, however, that most cases of measles in the United States are from people who have traveled internationally or were exposed to someone who did. Endemic outbreaks of measles have rarely occurred since the disease was declared eliminated in the nation as of 2000, thanks to high vaccination rates that provided herd immunity.
Reason for Decline?
Vaccines have a mixed reputation in the United States today; for example, one survey from the Pew Research Center found that 62% of Americans say the positives of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the negatives, though more than half the sample saw moderate to high risks of side effects. This may be due in no small part to misinformation and mistrust within communities across the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example, where lies from various sources throughout mainstream and social media propagated false statements about the vaccines. A report from NPR highlighted the ‘Disinformation Dozen‘, a group of 12 individuals who were found to have spread more than 65 percent of all misinformation posts about COVID-19 vaccines. (One of the members of the dozen inspired me to write this piece, and I will discuss this individual in a moment).
Some of the false allegations these people have peddled include the following:
- “5G networks caused the COVID outbreak”: I personally am not sure how to respond to this statement. Simply put, this is NOT TRUE. ‘5G‘ refers to the fifth generation of mobile communication, which consists of various technologies and infrastructure designed to make data transmission faster than previous generations, like 4G and 4G LTE. Dear Netizen, I cannot even begin to explain how something like 5G could be linked with pathogen transmission.
- “The vaccines have microchips”: Again, NOT TRUE. I think I will just quote a report from CNBC on this matter that reflects my opinion:
“That’s just not possible as far as the size that would be required for that microchip,” said Dr. Matt Laurens, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who also serves as a co-investigator on the phase three trials of the Moderna and Novavax Covid vaccines. “Second, that microchip would have to have an associated power source, and then in addition, that power source would have to transmit a signal through at least an inch of muscle and fat and skin to a remote device, which again, just doesn’t make sense.”
- “The vaccine has (insert disease) viral pieces and will give me the disease”: I have read that some believe the vaccines contain HIV, fetal tissue, or even the live COVID virus. This is simply NOT TRUE; none of these are found in any of the widely available vaccines currently in the United States, and manufacturers have publicly released their ingredient lists for all of us to review.
These claims have been spread by anti-vaxxers (people who oppose vaccinations for personal reasons) for years, and they have used similar tactics against other vaccines, such as those for the flu and measles (MMR). Unfortunately, their efforts have had significant negative impact on American society, with dire consequences for our nation’s public health. One article from Nature found a correlation between exposure to vaccine misinformation and an increase in hesitancy to get vaccinated if these claims were believed.
Why This Matters: Presidential Elections
So, why did I bring up vaccines as part of the Election series? Well, remember when I mentioned the ‘Disinformation Dozen‘? One of them happens to be Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the presidential hopefuls who recently left the race and endorsed candidate Donald Trump. Mr. Kennedy, a well-known advocate of the anti-vaxxer movement, has been recorded multiple times spreading misinformation about vaccines and used his views as official platforms for his now-defunct presidential run. One article by NBC speculated about a potential placement for Kennedy in Trump’s cabinet as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. I cannot overstate how dangerous this would be for the nation, given Kennedy’s current beliefs on vaccines, not to mention his general lack of trust in public health science, which could have significant negative consequences for our nation’s safety. Fellow Netizens, I can only invite you to imagine what a man like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could do as Secretary of the department in charge of our country’s healthcare and medical research.
If you want to learn more about Mr. Kennedy, I highly suggest watching John Oliver’s funny and informative segment on his show Last Week Tonight (see below).
Thanks for reading, and watch out for the next article. Until next time, fellow Netizens!
Get The Facts: Read More on Vaccines
CDC: Safety Information by Vaccine (for more information on each vaccine in case you have concerns or need the facts).
CDC: How to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation
KFF: KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor (KFF has a fantastic page focused on data regarding COVID vaccines, misinformation and the impact of politics on vaccine acceptance)
Vaccination as a cause of autism—myths and controversies: I wanted to share this great article that helps add context and explain the persistent myth that autism is caused by vaccines. Just to be clear: vaccines DO NOT cause autism!
Featured Image: Photo by CDC: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-getting-vaccinated-3992931/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s own opinions and statements. They do not reflect the opinions or stances of any organization affiliated with the author.
