Scottish Health Information Integrity Strategy

Vaccination and False Health Information

False information about vaccines is not new. One of the most well-known examples is the MMR vaccine, which protects children from measles, mumps and rubella. The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing these illnesses and has a well-established safety record.^[20] In 1998, a study wrongly claimed there was a link between the vaccine and autism. Research since then has definitively shown that there is no link,^[21] and the study in question was later retracted.^[22] The claim continued to spread, and even now it still influences how some parents feel about getting their child vaccinated.^[23]

Scotland has maintained high levels of vaccination overall, though there is concern about a trend of decreasing uptake over recent years. Recent research by Public Health Scotland has found that false health information is often cited by parents and families when explaining why they do not want their children to be vaccinated.^[24] Fortunately, UK Government research shows that overall parental trust in vaccination remains relatively high.^[25] However, surveys by YouGov have shown an alarming increase in the belief that the side effects of vaccination are being covered up, particularly amongst young adults.^[26]

The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly false information can spread and cause real harm — especially for pregnant women. During the pandemic, pregnant women who caught COVID-19 were at greater risk of serious illness, complications, and even death. Getting vaccinated was strongly recommended to protect both mother and baby, yet a wave of false claims online led many to feel unsure or afraid.^[27] False information about vaccine safety and fertility spread quickly. There were many reasons for this, including a lack of accurate information on social media and the fact that pregnant women weren’t included in the earliest vaccine trials.^[28] The result was that many more pregnant women chose not to get vaccinated compared with women who were not pregnant.²⁹ In fact, 98% of those admitted to intensive care in Scotland during the pandemic had not received the vaccine.^[29] This highlights just how important it is to make sure accurate, trusted information reaches people early, especially those at greater risk.