Analysis
In a popular social media post, a Palestinian journalist wrote about Israel’s ongoing blockade preventing vaccines from entering Gaza. Responses to the post claim that Gazans don’t need vaccines, arguing that they are “poison” and that polio is a “hoax.” One post quotes a fake medical organization that condemned polio vaccines.
Recommendations
False claims about the safety of polio vaccines may cause parents to refuse them. Providing information before and during vaccination campaigns can help reduce the spread of these claims. Explaining that vaccines allow parents to protect their children against terrible diseases like polio and measles is recommended. Prebunking messaging may emphasize that the polio vaccine has been used safely for generations.