A crisis of credibility: the global cost of US vaccine misinformation

"The global health community faces a deepening challenge—not only from infectious diseases but also from a pandemic of misinformation.1 The USA, long a cornerstone of global health leadership, has become an unexpected source of global instability in vaccination confidence. While US institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) remain internationally respected, their credibility has been compromised by domestic political interference, institutional undermining, and unregulated digital platforms. The consequences are global.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, contradictory messaging on masking, vaccine safety, and mandates created domestic confusion and emboldened fringe narratives. While misinformation is not uniquely American, its scale and global reach are. An analysis of 316 million vaccine-related tweets from
October, 2019 to March, 2021 across 18 languages found that the USA functioned as a major exporter of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, with American accounts disproportionately represented as central hubs in global misinformation networks.2 [emphasis added]

 

This cross-border amplification was facilitated by the design of mainstream social media platforms—most of which are headquartered in the USA—whose algorithmic architectures prioritised emotionally charged and polarising content. A separate longitudinal analysis of almost 300 million tweets on Twitter (now X) in 2021 found that only 800 “superspreader” accounts were responsible for a third of all vaccine misinformation retweets, with the most prominent account belonging to Robert F Kennedy Jr, accounting for more than 13% of these retweets.3 These accounts operated primarily within the US digital ecosystem but had global reach, reinforcing the role of American-origin misinformation as a destabilising force in international vaccination confidence.

...

This transnational dissemination of falsehoods about vaccines has undermined not only trust in public health programmes, but also the institutions that deliver them.  ... There is still time to act. But it requires confronting uncomfortable truths about the role of the USA in fuelling mistrust, and the political choices that have allowed it. The world cannot afford another crisis in which lives are lost not for lack of vaccines, but for lack of truth." [emphasis added]

 

(more)

 

The Lancet

https://www.vaccineconfidence.org/wp-content/uploads/Crisis-of-CredibilityLANCET-1.pdf

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01495-3/abstract

 

 

 

Emerging Misinformation Narratives

September 12, 2024

 

"Recent political statements have further complicated the vaccine discussion. Presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to defund schools that mandate COVID-19 vaccines, a move that could exacerbate vaccine hesitancy and negatively impact public health efforts. While Trump previously supported the development and promotion of vaccines, his current stance has raised concerns among health experts about the potential for increased vaccine misinformation and declining vaccination rates. Trump’s rhetoric against vaccine mandates could undermine public trust in vaccination programs and jeopardize progress made in controlling preventable diseases."

 

KFF - The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news

https://www.kff.org/health-information-trust/vaccine-misinformation-spreads-as-children-head-back-to-school/

 

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

This transnational dissemination of falsehoods about vaccines has undermined not only trust in public health programmes, but also the institutions that deliver them.  ... There is still time to act. But it requires confronting uncomfortable truths about the role of the USA in fuelling mistrust, and the political choices that have allowed it. The world cannot afford another crisis in which lives are lost not for lack of vaccines, but for lack of truth."

The institutions  themself were the ones fueling the distrust..the shaming,slander,de-platforming, censorship of any dissenting voice was clear for all to see..and once seen it can not be unseen..

The 'institutions' answer to this mistrust of their own making is to do exactly the same as before but better !!!!!   didn't  work before (almost did)

but wont work again   far too many have woken up.

These so called trusted institutions  have totally squandered any trust

during the Covidiocy Plandemic regaining it I think will be almost impossible.

On 10/23/2025 at 3:15 PM, johng said:

The institutions  themself were the ones fueling the distrust..the shaming,slander,de-platforming, censorship of any dissenting voice was clear for all to see..and once seen it can not be unseen..

The 'institutions' answer to this mistrust of their own making is to do exactly the same as before but better !!!!!   didn't  work before (almost did)

but wont work again   far too many have woken up.

These so called trusted institutions  have totally squandered any trust

during the Covidiocy Plandemic regaining it I think will be almost impossible.

+1

 

What was your favorite “institutional” lie?

 

Mine was when Fauci was interviewed the day after he got his televised “jab”.   
 

When asked how he was feeling, he replied that he was just fine but his shoulder was sore…..(while rubbing the opposite shoulder from the one that took the needle the previous day 😂)……ooops!

 

Starts at the 1:10 mark…..

 

 

5 hours ago, Airalee said:

What was your favorite “institutional” lie?

 

There are so many.  

 

 

 

2 hours ago, johng said:

 

There are so many.  

 

 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Airalee said:

+1

 

What was your favorite “institutional” lie?

 

Mine was when Fauci was interviewed the day after he got his televised “jab”.   
 

When asked how he was feeling, he replied that he was just fine but his shoulder was sore…..(while rubbing the opposite shoulder from the one that took the needle the previous day 😂)……ooops!

 

Starts at the 1:10 mark…..

 

 

 

"I didn't even feel it…" [Smiling] 
The level of contempt for the plebs is a sight to behold.

 

 

 

Liz Churchill - predictably, another anti-vaxer looney tuner:

--AI assisted

 

And more nonsense dreck from this person, whomever they are:

 

Bill Gates was not 'indicted' over Covid-19 vaccine activism

Published on November 19, 2024

 

"A group of vaccine skeptics filed a civil lawsuit against Bill Gates and several government officials in the Netherlands, accusing them of misleading the public about the purported dangers of Covid-19 vaccines. However, claims that the billionaire founder of Microsoft has been "indicted" or faces charges in Europe are false -- the case is not a criminal proceeding and is still ongoing. [emphasis added]

 

"Listen to the crowd CHEER as @RobertKennedyJr states that Bill Gates will have to go to trial in the Netherlands. 'He's been indicted in the Netherlands for lying to the public about the 'Covid Vaccine,'" says an October 24, 2024 X post from Liz Churchill, a self-described Canadian "conspiracy theorist" who has previously shared misinformation.

 

https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36MK7B4

 

Now we know who the cult of demons are.  And we know the accursed tactics and strategies they use to poison us.  They have revealed their cards.

 

The antidote is to conduct a sacrifice of the poisonous beliefs of the demon cult, and upgrade to a better set of beliefs based on truth.  Do you know how to enter the ethereal promised land of successful beliefs flowing with milk and honey?  Or are you going to follow the demons and their poison over the cliff into the abyss?

1 hour ago, rattlesnake said:

 

"I didn't even feel it…" [Smiling] 
The level of contempt for the plebs is a sight to behold.

 

 

 

 

And with this one, you're recycling a FAKE claim from 2020 that involved Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk actually getting a FLU vaccine -- even though social media posts falsely claimed she didn't.  All of that having exactly NOTHING to do with a COVID vaccination.

 

Here's one of the YT video clips from 2020 (before the arrival of COVID vaccines) making the false claims relating to the supposedly pretend flu vaccine -- with the scene shown exactly matching the bogus Melinda Richards X COVID post above.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0AVXt0DGw

 

And here's Reuters in 2020 explaining how the 2020 social media claims about the supposed flu faked vaccination were FALSE from the get-go!

Fact check: Queensland premier Annastacia
Palaszczuk did not fake getting a flu shot

December 12, 2020

 

"A video circulating on social media, shows Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk apparently receiving a vaccine with a syringe that is covered with a cap. Some users allege the scene proves that Palaszczuk did not get the vaccine at all. The scene from April 2020 is missing context.  Full footage shows that Palaszczuk received her flu shot moments earlier, the clip shows a re-enactment of the scene, so photographers could capture the moment."

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/fact-check-queenslandpremierannastaciapalaszczuk-did-not-fake-getting-a-flu-idUSKBN28L2AE/

 

 

Both of the above social media posts from disreputable sources, and avidly reposted by anti-vaxers here, are fitting evidence for the topic of this thread:

 

 Crisis of credibility: the global cost of US vax misinformation 

 

 

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

 

And with this one, you're recycling a FAKE claim from 2020 that involved Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk actually getting a FLU vaccine -- even though social media posts falsely claimed she didn't.  All of that having exactly NOTHING to do with a COVID vaccination.

 

Here's one of the YT video clips from 2020 (before the arrival of COVID vaccines) making the false claims relating to the supposedly pretend flu vaccine -- with the scene shown exactly matching the bogus Melinda Richards X COVID post above.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0AVXt0DGw

 

And here's Reuters in 2020 explaining how the 2020 social media claims about the supposed flu faked vaccination were FALSE from the get-go!

Fact check: Queensland premier Annastacia
Palaszczuk did not fake getting a flu shot

December 12, 2020

 

"A video circulating on social media, shows Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk apparently receiving a vaccine with a syringe that is covered with a cap. Some users allege the scene proves that Palaszczuk did not get the vaccine at all. The scene from April 2020 is missing context.  Full footage shows that Palaszczuk received her flu shot moments earlier, the clip shows a re-enactment of the scene, so photographers could capture the moment."

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/fact-check-queenslandpremierannastaciapalaszczuk-did-not-fake-getting-a-flu-idUSKBN28L2AE/

 

 

Both of the above social media posts from disreputable sources, and avidly reposted by anti-vaxers here, are fitting evidence for the topic of this thread:

 

 Crisis of credibility: the global cost of US vax misinformation 

 

 

 

Yeah I saw that in the comments but posted it anyway. It's the Russian way, my dear Tall Guy.

 

4 hours ago, Mark Nothing said:

Now we know who the cult of demons are.  And we know the accursed tactics and strategies they use to poison us.  They have revealed their cards.

 

They never hid it. It's there for all to see, in the logo.

 

19 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Re the fake / misleading social media video you posted above...

 

yes, of course you did..... being the good anti-vaxer that you are.

 

Crisis of credibility: the global cost of US vax misinformation

 

 

The only thing that matters to me is to spread 'dangerous disinformation'.

 

7 minutes ago, Mark Nothing said:

 

The plot thickens.  Notice the flat earth map?

 

Indeed. Flat Earth map also on the UN logo:

 

18 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

 

I wonder why they didn’t just go on TV and get the saline jab.

 

 

A couple of troll posts from the same member have been removed @rattlesnake

 

Just because this forum is free and easy it does not mean you can come on here and by your own admission deliberately 'spread dangerous disinformation' 

 

"Macron did not receive a COVID vaccine?

 

The claim that French President Emmanuel Macron did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine is false. News reports and official statements indicate he received the vaccine and promoted vaccination during the pandemic."

 

"On May 31, 2021, the French president announced on Twitter that he had been vaccinated."

 

And re Jean LaSalle:

 

"Jean Lassalle (French Politician)

• Notable controversies: In 2022, he gained attention for making an unverified claim that French politicians were lying about their COVID-19 vaccination status. This raises questions about his reliability regarding scientific and health-related topics."

 

--AI assist

 

PS - your cited X account "The Canadian Independent" isn't any kind of recognized news organization.

 

 

 

22 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

"Macron did not receive a COVID vaccine?

 

The claim that French President Emmanuel Macron did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine is false. News reports and official statements indicate he received the vaccine and promoted vaccination during the pandemic."

 

"On May 31, 2021, the French president announced on Twitter that he had been vaccinated."

 

And re Jean LaSalle:

 

"Jean Lassalle (French Politician)

• Notable controversies: In 2022, he gained attention for making an unverified claim that French politicians were lying about their COVID-19 vaccination status. This raises questions about his reliability regarding scientific and health-related topics."

 

--AI assist

 

PS - your cited X account "The Canadian Independent" isn't any kind of recognized news organization.

 

 

 

 

Neither you or I know whether it is true or false. Lassalle has made this claim at least twice and never retracted it. He nearly died after receiving his own vax.

 

Quote

Notable controversies: In 2022, he gained attention for making an unverified claim that French politicians were lying about their COVID-19 vaccination status.

 

Nor has Lassalle ever publicly proved his claim regarding Macron and the others, as best as I can see.

 

LIkewise, I'm not aware of anything showing the heart injury Lassalle claims was ever documented as actually being due to a COVID vaccine, beyond his own claim.

 

"Independent medical or scientific validation of Lassalle's specific claims is not readily available in the search results provided."

 

AND

 

"Minimal risk for older adults: Older adults face only a slightly elevated risk of myocarditis after vaccination, and this is far lower than the risk observed in younger males.

Typical prognosis: In most cases, post-vaccine myocarditis is mild and resolves with rest and anti-inflammatory medication. Myocarditis caused by COVID-19 infection tends to be more severe and carries a higher mortality rate."
 

--AI assisted