DISINFO: Science doubts the effectiveness of vaccines
SUMMARY
There’s a broad base of scientific studies questioning both the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The growing number of people filing vaccine-injury claims with the national Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) also speaks to the fact that there’s a problem, as does the scientific evidence showing industry-funded vaccine studies are riddled with bias.
RESPONSE
This is an anti-vaccination conspiracy theory, presented without evidence, claiming the existence of health hazards connected to vaccines.The pro-Kremlin media, as well as the St Petersburg Internet Research Agency, have a well-established track record of pushing anti-vaccination disinformation. Vaccines are supported by extensive scientific research. They are the main tool for primary prevention of disease and one of the most cost-effective public health measures available, saving millions of people from illness, disability and death each year. Immunisation through vaccination is the best defence we have against serious, preventable, and sometimes deadly contagious diseases. Thanks to widespread vaccination, smallpox has been eradicated, Europe made polio-free, and many other diseases almost eliminated. Effective and safe vaccines, which protect against a number of serious diseases, are available and many promising new vaccines are being developed. See more information on vaccines here. The World Health Organisation has a page devoted to anti-vaccine mythbusting here. For similar cases, see here.