Analysis
Indonesia’s recent authorization for a clinical trial for a tuberculosis vaccine prompted negative reactions that continued to circulate over the weekend. Several social media and blog posts about the trial falsely alleged that a polio vaccine funded by the Gates Foundation paralyzed either 47,000 or half a million Indian children, disproven myths that have circulated online for years. A popular anti-vaccine account accused the Indonesian health officials of hiding vaccine safety data. Many users opposed vaccines and claimed that Indonesians are being used as “guinea pigs" to test new vaccines.
Recommendations
Health communicators may use conversations about vaccine trials to explain how vaccines are developed, safety tested, and regulated. Messaging may explain that the TB vaccine in question has already completed two clinical trials showing it to be safe. According to health officials, the final trial will include over 20,000 people from five countries, including Indonesia. Additionally, the trial is being funded by the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, an NGO that receives funding from the Gates Foundation and several other organizations. The trial will be conducted by a private company and overseen by independent health authorities. Talking points may continue to emphasize that polio vaccines, like all approved vaccines, are thoroughly tested and monitored for safety. Additionally, several Indonesian news outlets have fact-checked the myth that the polio vaccines paralyzed thousands of children in India.