Old Photo of Baby Surrounded by Her Parents' Treatments, Not Childhood Vaccines
The Claim
A newborn surrounded by vaccines that a baby has to take at an early age.
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Emerging story
Social media users widely shared a photo purporting to feature a newborn surrounded by vaccines that a baby has to take at an early age. The photo was used by vaccine conspiracy theorists to criticize the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies responsible for infant vaccinations.
U.S. politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted the photo with an anti-vaccine stance, claiming, "Each one of those shots is billed as a medical advance. So, our children should be healthier than ever. But the opposite is true. We have to seriously study whether the scores of shots children receive, literally starting on the first day of their lives, is doing more harm than good."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral photo and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found that the photo had been shared out of its original context.
Old Photo of a Baby Surrounded by Her Parents’ Treatments
Contrary to the viral claim on social media, the photo does not depict a baby surrounded by vaccines received at an early age. Misbar’s team traced the original image back to January 2020. On January 5, 2020, a Facebook page shared the photo, identifying the baby as an Iraqi girl from Kirkuk, surrounded by the fertility treatments her parents used to conceive her, not childhood vaccines.
The post referenced another by Iraqi parents, who shared the original photo of their baby, stating, "After using all these medicines, God gave us this child."
Another Facebook page shared the same photo of the baby on January 8, 2020, showing an Iraqi girl from Kirkuk surrounded by the fertility treatments her parents underwent prior to her birth.
Robert F. Kennedy: An Anti-Vaccine Advocate
Robert F. Kennedy Jr is an anti-vaccine activist. Kennedy Jr. is campaigning against institutions such as pharmaceutical and tech companies. He has faced criticism for promoting false medical claims, including controversial claims linking vaccines to autism. Kennedy has also opposed state and federal COVID-19 restrictions, leading to accusations of spreading misinformation about the virus.
Kennedy has chaired the Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit focused on anti-vaccine messaging. In an interview with Reuters, Kennedy stated that if elected president, every American who wishes to receive a vaccine for themselves or their children would have access. However, he expressed skepticism about the efficacy of measles vaccines and suggested that he would increase scrutiny on the effectiveness and potential consequences of preventive treatments.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses and is nearly entirely preventable through vaccination. To effectively prevent outbreaks, a vaccination coverage rate of 95% is needed within populations. However, the CDC reports that vaccination coverage rates among young children in the U.S. have fallen below this critical threshold.
Childhood Immunization Schedule
The childhood immunization schedule, also known as the childhood vaccine schedule, outlines the common vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children. Immunization is crucial for protecting children from various infections and diseases, many of which can spread easily among children and lead to severe health complications or even death.
Most vaccines should be administered during the first two years of a child's life, with several doses often required to ensure full protection. By 15 months of age, a child may receive up to 10 different types of vaccines, as advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Additional doses and vaccines are typically given between the ages of 15 months and 16 years.
Vaccines for childhood diseases are considered very safe. While some children may experience mild side effects, such as a sore arm or leg or a low fever, serious adverse reactions are rare. The health risks posed by childhood diseases are generally greater than those associated with vaccines.
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