The head of NHS England has warned that "vaccination deniers" are gaining traction on social media as part of a "fake news" movement.

Simon Stevens said parents were seeing "fake messages" online about vaccines, which was making it harder to "win the public argument" on vaccination.

NHS England is considering what action can be taken to stop such messages spreading, Mr Stevens said.

He said the health service needed to support parents on the issue.

'Fake messages'
Speaking at a health summit held by the Nuffield Trust think tank, Mr Stevens said that there had been a "steady decline" in the uptake of the measles vaccine over the last five years.

He went on to describe the uptake of the MMR vaccine among five-year-olds in England (87.5% compared with the World Health Organization target of 95%) as a "real problem".

He said: "Across the world, two to three million lives are saved each year by vaccination.

"But as part of the fake news movement, actually the vaccination deniers are getting some traction...

"We are not being helped on this front by the fact that although nine in 10 parents support vaccination, half of them say they have seen fake messages about vaccination on social media."

Mr Stevens said parents at his daughter's primary school have expressed concern about vaccines.

"This is probably not something I should be saying, but I'll anonymously read you one of the WhatsApp messages from one of the parents.

"'My kids aren't vulnerable and I think loading up on vaccines blocks their systems from fighting disease as it should do'."

"We have a responsibility for the nine out of 10 to really explain it's not just of interest for your own children but herd immunity for other children as well."

'Misleading and dangerous information'
In January, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) warned that social media is helping to spread "misleading and dangerous information" about vaccines.

Experts called for more to be done to challenge untruths about possible side effects of vaccines and said that social media giants should clamp down on "fake news".

The study said social media is a "breeding ground for misleading information and negative messaging around vaccination".

Mr Stevens added: "Frankly it's as irresponsible to tell parents that their children shouldn't be vaccinated as it is to say don't bother - to your kids on their way to primary school - to look both ways when they cross the road.

"As a health service, we've really got to help support parents on this."

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47417966

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What should be done to combat anti-vaxxers? Would banning unvaccinated children from public schools, transport and playgrounds be the morally right thing to do in order to combat the spread of preventable diseases?

I honestly can't get into the anti-vax mindset or their way of thinking its quite unbelievable and just as irresponsible 

We have the same problem in Finland too and I personally feel this is one of the most idiotic phenomenon in modern society.

What amazes me the most is that some of the anti-vaccination people are actually educated and seemingly smart people (although anyone who denies vaccinations can't be genuinely smart). It would be fine if those people just denied vaccinations from themselves but these irresponsible parents actually put their innocent kids at risk instead (and other kids who stay with them). I'm sorry if my strong opinions hurt someone who read this but I'm just very much against this kind of behaviour, especially because I have a young kid myself who'll soon attend public nursery and later school.

I have had all my injections and vaccinations so far and will continue to. I think its silly to not have them as the disease is much worse than any potential side effect an injection would give you.

I have had all my injections and vaccinations so far and will continue to. I think its silly to not have them as the disease is much worse than any potential side effect an injection would give you.

Exactly Maddie, you're so smart!
I'd rather be a little groggy after a booster than have whatever horrid disease comes next

This was recently in the news in the US as well because an 18 year old went and got his vaccinations because his parents were anti-vax.

In a way it's not surprising that anti-vax is a thing because in developed nations where these diseases were almost wiped out people don't see the negative effects of the disease. It's beyond the generational memory. Measle's wasn't a part of the childhood of these parents.

I've always thought of vaccines a bit like insurance. The vaccine still might have some cost, like you get a little sore or a little sick, but it insures against the scenario where you are one of the people who would have a potentially fatal reaction to measles. But people hate insurance unless they can see it working, in which case they grudgingly accept it.

It also fits into the trend of people completely ignoring expert opinions which baffles me. If somebody has spent years studying the immune system their words hold more weight than that of a concerned parent. You can be skeptical of what they're saying and look for red flags, but way too many anti-vaxers are instead completely dismissive of the science.

This is very concerning to read. Even more so when you read reports of mass cases of measles returning to some parts of the world

The link between vaccines and autism is very tenuous, and the author of the research papers has been widely discredited and shunned from medical circles.

When people don't vaccinate their kids cause 'when was the last time there was a polio outbreak?' ... that's because people have been vaccinated. 

Parents who don't vaccinate their children should be charged with child abuse.

They are not anti-vax, they are pro-disease.

The study said social media is a "breeding ground for misleading information and negative messaging around vaccination".

Social media a breeding ground for misleading information and negative messaging around EVERYTHING.

There is literally no evidence whatsoever that vaccines have the effects that some of these very questionable parents claim they do.  None.  @DeltaDirac  brought up a story I was about to share actually. 

As a person of science, the complete ignorance to do what is right because they think all these other "hereditary" diseases and disorders are a distinct possibility, is outright insulting to me.  Autism for example, has a genetic basis.  It can't be just magically obtained from an injection for something completely unrelated to it.  It's a neurodevelopmental disorder.  Not a disease you get from somebody accidentally sneezing on you.

A person I went to school with - her mom made a long post on Facebook about why she is fighting to end vaccinations and I just went ballistic.  It was a solid 2 day argument followed by her making a surprise appearance at my front door to hash it out with me further.  It got even worse then, and my dad called the police. 

The sheer stupidity of some people blows my mind.

As a person of science, the complete ignorance to do what is right because they think all these other "hereditary" diseases and disorders are a distinct possibility, is outright insulting to me.  Autism for example, has a genetic basis.  It can't be just magically obtained from an injection for something completely unrelated to it.  It's a neurodevelopmental disorder.  Not a disease you get from somebody accidentally sneezing on you.

I'm with you on the scientific front and very much like to see hard evidence. But I think there is a potential for environmental factors to have some influence in autism. The causes of the illness are largely unknown but potentially exposure to certain chemicals, diets, and lifestyle choices could bring about chemical imbalances and trigger mental health problems.

Regardless, it is definitely worth vaccinating your children!