This edition highlights vaccine hesitancy and misinformation around MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines as children return to school and measles cases resurge in parts of the U.S. We also examine emerging narratives around COVID-19 vaccine misinformation following the FDA approval of COVID-19 boosters and false claims linking mpox to the vaccines. Additionally, a review of recent research explores strategies to combat MMR vaccine hesitancy, and we discuss the growing use of AI in academic papers.

“There’s a freedom piece on the other side of this argument,” said Caitlin Gilmet, communications director at the vaccine advocacy group SAFE Communities Coalition and Action Fund. “You should have the right to protect your family from preventable diseases.”

In January, Gilmet and other child health advocates offered free fried chicken biscuits at the Tennessee Statehouse, handing out flyers as legislators and aides drifted in to eat. One pamphlet enumerated the toll of a 2018-19 measles outbreak in Washington state that sickened 72 people, most of whom were unvaccinated: $76,000 in medical care, $2.3 million for the public health response and an estimated $1 million in economic losses due to illness, quarantine and caregiving.

Barb Dentz, an advocate with Tennessee Families for Vaccines, repeated that most of the state’s constituents support strong policies in favor of immunizations.

“Protecting kids should be such a no-brainer,” Dentz told Republican Rep. Sam Whitson later that morning in his office. Whitson agreed.

“Dr. Google and Facebook have been such a challenge,” he said. “Fighting ignorance has become a full-time job.”

Story by Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News