COVID-19 Vaccines: What’s Anti-Vaxxers’ Role?

By Camryn S. '21

The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine is here; However, while frontline workers eagerly snap selfies with their freshly applied Band-Aids and teachers flood to hospitals to receive their first dose of the treatment, one specific group is choosing not to partake in this critical medical milestone. Enter the “Anti-Vaxxers,” a commonly overlooked yet extremely significant portion of society, spreading often inaccurate and unprovable ideology regarding vaccination.

The term “Anti-Vaxxer” describes any individual who is explicitly opposed to the administration of any vaccination, not just the COVID-19 vaccine. While many anti-vaxxers’ reasons differ regarding their refusal for the vaccine, such as the false assumption that the Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine leads to autism in children, the inclusion of substances such as aluminum, the social implications of this group serve as a lesson about the ease of spreading misinformation.

For example, the most commonly cited study by anti-vaxxers, which observed an association between the MMR vaccine and autism in children, has since been redacted by its author. The study was not only disproven several times, but also its examination of only twelve children in the study pales in comparison to the standard for scientific observation, typically involving tens of thousands of subjects. Additionally, on any given day, an individual consumes approximately 30-50 milligrams of aluminum, which is more than twenty times the maximum amount permitted to be included in a single dose of a vaccine (0.85 mg.)

Social media also plays a large role in the spread of misinformation, particularly about the vaccine, as explained by David Broniatowski, a graduate of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at George Washington University. He explains, “what was previously a fringe option is becoming a transnational movement. The unique thing about social media is that they allow messages to propagate very quickly and for communities to form.” In one study of anti-vaccination ideology shared on Facebook, observers examined one page from a local pediatrician’s clinic. However, commenters who advocated for the avoidance of vaccination originated from 36 American states and eight separate nations. This study proves how far-reaching anti-vaccination rhetoric can be, as one page that was likely only viewed by a few hundred Facebook users local to the clinic prior to this post was commented on by anti-vaxxers in 36 American states and eight countries.

While vaccines, such as those created by Pfizer and Moderna, boast a 95% efficacy rate in preventing the contraction of COVID-19 and potentially life-threatening side effects of the disease, the choice to vaccinate yourself and your family is extremely personal. Whether an anti-vaxxer or not, each individual should carefully consider the implications of their decision to receive or reject this vaccination.