US vaccine misinformation is having “frightening” ripple effect in Europe, leaders warn

Vaccine misinformation and disinformation being spread in the US—including by senior politicians—is affecting patients and researchers in Europe, experts have warned.

Speaking at the World Vaccine Congress Europe in Amsterdam on 14 October, public health policy makers and industry leaders warned of the “domino effect” of messaging coming from the US. The conference also heard that investment in vaccine development and technologies had started declining as a result of the negative sentiment in the US and recent political decisions.

Speakers said that since President Trump retook office and made Robert F Kennedy Jr his health chief,1 the administration had cut vaccine research funding, made unfounded claims about vaccines and autism,2 fired vaccine experts and other health staff,34 and given mixed messaging on measles vaccination amid a deadly outbreak of the disease.5

Sibilia Quilici, executive director of Vaccines Europe, a group representing …