Myth-Busters—Vaccine Edition

Newsweek

11 hours ago

Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Vaccines are among the most rigorously tested and effective tools in modern medicine, yet myths and misinformation persist. Here, we address some of the most common claims with science-backed facts.
Claim 1: Vaccine Ingredients Like Mercury or Thimerosal Are Harmful
Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, was once used in multi-dose vaccine vials to prevent contamination. Thimerosal breaks down into ethylmercury, which does not accumulate in the body and is not the same as the toxic methylmercury found in certain fish. Thimerosal has been removed from nearly all vaccines in the United States since 2001, except for some flu vaccines, and extensive studies show no evidence of harm at the doses used in vaccines.
Conclusion? Myth.
Claim 2: Vaccines Cause Autism
The belief that vaccines cause autism originated from a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield, which was later retracted due to fraud and ethical violations. Large-scale studies involving hundreds of thousands of children have found no link between vaccines and autism. The timing of autism diagnosis often coincides with the vaccination schedule, but correlation does not mean causation.
Conclusion? Myth.
An immunization nurse holds a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (brand name: Comirnaty) at Borinquen Health Care Center on May 29, 2025, in Miami, Fla.
An immunization nurse holds a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (brand name: Comirnaty) at Borinquen Health Care Center on May 29, 2025, in Miami, Fla.Claim 3: COVID-19 Vaccines Cause Cancer
Some rumors claim COVID-19 vaccines cause "turbo cancer" due to mRNA or SV40 fragments. However, mRNA from vaccines cannot enter the cell nucleus or alter DNA. There is no scientific evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines or SV40 fragments to cancer. mRNA is also naturally present in all foods and is harmless when consumed.
Conclusion? Myth.
Claim 4: Governments Exaggerate Disease Threats to Push Vaccines
Vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives in the past 50 years. Diseases like smallpox, which once killed 30 percent of those infected, have been eradicated thanks to vaccination. When vaccination rates drop, diseases return, as seen in recent measles outbreaks. Public health guidelines are based on decades of research, not political agendas.
Conclusion? Myth.
Claim 5: Homeopathy and Supplements Can Replace Vaccines
Homeopathic remedies and supplements have not been shown to trigger an immune response or prevent disease like vaccines do. Even most homeopathic practitioners support vaccination, and Faculty of Homeopathy explicitly recommends vaccines as first-line protection.
Conclusion? Myth.
Claim 6: Healthy Children Are at Higher Risk of Dying from Infections If Not Vaccinated
Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, hundreds of children died from measles each year in the U.S. After widespread vaccination, deaths dropped by over 99 percent. Recent outbreaks in unvaccinated communities show that risk returns when vaccination rates fall.
Conclusion? Truth.
Why This Matters
Misinformation about vaccines has real consequences. As of June 2025, three people have died from measles in the U.S. this year—more than any year in the previous decade. Other children who have caught the measles without getting the vaccine first will be at risk of other complications including brain inflammation later on in life. This is why it's important to trust credible sources and follow science-backed recommendations.
Vaccines have been rigorously tested, reviewed, and monitored for decades. They are one of the greatest success stories in medicine, saving lives and preventing suffering. If you have questions about vaccines, talk to a trusted health care provider—don't rely on social media or Dr. Google. Protect yourself, your children, and your community.
Dr. Annalicia Pickering is a board-certified pediatrician on faculty at Stanford University.
Niharika Rane is a Masters of Public Health student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Akul Shrivastava, Srilalitha Nair, and Sahngwie Yim are youth volunteers with the American Red Cross.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.