As we shared in an alert last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel voted to remove a decades-old recommendation to vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B within 24 hours of birth. After a surge of headlines, Michigan social media users showed confusion about how the virus spreads, expressed doubt about vaccinating newborns, and shared false claims about hepatitis B vaccine safety. This month’s newsletter covers online reactions to the meeting, as well as the latest local conversations about…
Gun violence: New recommendations from the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force faced backlash from gun owners online.
Mental health: Reports about few inpatient mental health treatment options in the Upper Peninsula led to conversation about difficulty accessing care.
Vaccines: Articles on a new flu variant and rising cases in Michigan sparked false claims about the flu vaccine.
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Vaccines
New federal hepatitis B vaccine recommendations fuel false claims about necessity and safety
What’s happening:
On December 5, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to remove a decades-old recommendation to vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B within 24 hours of birth.
Instead, ACIP recommends that pregnant people who test negative for hepatitis B talk with their health care provider about vaccinating their baby.
In response, some Michigan social media users encouraged parents to continue vaccinating newborns. They noted that some people don’t receive prenatal care or may be unaware of their hepatitis B status.
Others falsely claimed that the vaccine is poisonous, causes autism and sudden infant death syndrome, and is unnecessary—falsely claiming that the virus only spreads through sex or injection drug use.
Why this matters:
Conversation reveals that many parents in Michigan may not know why newborns are vaccinated against hepatitis B. As false claims about safety spread, it’s important to share why this vaccine still matters and why the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services still recommends it.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and other major medical organizations still recommend the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns.
Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause liver disease, cancer, and death. Infants who are infected are very likely to stay infected for life.
Research shows that the vaccine is safe and has significantly lowered the number of hepatitis B infections in the U.S.
The virus can be passed from parent to child during birth, and many people with hepatitis B don’t know they’re infected.
Share this in response
Suggested caption:
Hepatitis B can lead to lifelong illness, liver cancer, or even death. Babies are especially vulnerable, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and other groups recommend that all newborns receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Talk to your baby’s doctor about how the hepatitis B vaccine helps your child grow up healthy.
The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force recently released a report with new policy recommendations, including banning assault weapons and raising the minimum age to buy guns to 21.
Many Michigan social media users objected to the recommendations, with some suggesting that further gun restrictions would be ineffective and unfairly penalize responsible gun owners.
Why this matters:
As debates continue, there’s an opportunity to reinforce what responsible gun ownership looks like and how it can help protect families, especially children.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
Responsible gun ownership helps keep families and communities safe. Securely storing guns helps prevent violence, including accidental deaths among children.
Michigan law requires gun owners to store guns in a locked container or unloaded and locked with a locking device when children may be present. Similar laws exist for guns kept in vehicles.
Being a responsible gun owner helps keep your family and community safe. Michigan law requires storing guns in a locked container or unloaded and locked (both in a car and at home if children may be present). Get a free gun safety kit and trigger locks from Project ChildSafe.
Posts highlight mental health treatment gaps in Michigan
What’s happening:
In November, a Michigan news outlet reported that the state is facing a shortage of inpatient mental health treatment options, especially in the Upper Peninsula.
Social media users across the state discussed how these shortages have made it difficult to access mental health treatment, particularly for children.
Why this matters:
Frustration about finding mental health care is common. Sharing free and low-cost resources can help connect people to the support they need, especially during a time when mental health services are stretched thin.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
Find free and low-cost mental health resources through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Headlines about new flu variant fuel concerns about vaccine effectiveness
What’s happening:
In late November, several Michigan news outlets reported on a new flu variant that’s driving rising cases nationwide.
Reports emphasized that while the current flu vaccine may not perfectly match the new strain, it’s still the best protection against severe illness and death.
Many social media users called the flu vaccine unnecessary and ineffective and repeated the long-debunked myth that it causes the flu. However, a few encouraged vaccination to stay healthy and help protect vulnerable community members.
Why this matters:
Michigan flu vaccine uptake remains low as cases begin increasing. Now is a key moment to remind people that the flu vaccine remains the best protection against severe illness.
Helpful messaging to share right now:
It’s not “just” the flu. The flu can cause serious illness and even death, especially for older adults, young children, pregnant people, and people with chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.
This season’s flu vaccine is still the best way to stay protected. Even with a new variant spreading, the vaccine helps you bounce back faster and avoid serious complications.
The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu. You might feel mild symptoms like headache and fatigue after getting vaccinated—those are signs your immune system is doing its job.
The flu vaccine is approved and recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Michigan residents can get vaccinated at many pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and local health departments.
Share this in response
Suggested caption:
Even healthy people can get very sick with the flu. This season’s vaccine is still your best protection, even if the strain isn’t a perfect match. Make sure everyone in your family 6 months and older gets vaccinated. Michigan residents can get vaccinated at many pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and local health departments.
All of your hepatitis B vaccine questions answered
Hepatitis B is a potentially deadly disease that can be prevented by vaccination. Share this article to inform your community about the benefits of the hepatitis B vaccine and why doctors recommend it for babies.
Public Good News is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to community health. We partner with trusted local voices throughout the U.S. to distribute accurate, accessible, and inclusive health news in English and Spanish.
