IN A WORLD where social media is one of our main sources of news, it’s more important than ever to know how to separate fact from fiction—especially when it comes to something as personal and important as your health.
Let’s break down how to spot credible vaccine information and avoid the stuff that can lead people astray.
What’s the difference between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation?
Not all wrong info is created equal. Here’s what you need to know:
Harmful
False
Misinformation is false, but not on purpose. Maybe it’s an honest mistake, a misunderstood meme, or someone sharing satire thinking it’s real.
Disinformation is false on purpose. It’s created to trick or deceive people.
Malinformation is when true information is twisted or shared with harmful intent—often taken out of context to scare or mislead.
UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION
behind the information can help you decide how to respond—or whether to engage at all.
How to find (and trust) credible information
When it comes to making decisions about your health—or your child’s—expert advice matters.
So, who are the vaccine experts? They’re the people who’ve spent their careers studying vaccines: Doctors. Scientists. Public health professionals.
Here’s how to make sure you’re getting info from reliable sources:
- Talk to your healthcare provider. They know your medical history and can guide you based on your personal needs.
- Stick with trusted websites. Think CDC, WHO, local health departments, and reputable medical institutions.
- Be cautious with influencers or “experts” without medical credentials. A lot of people sound convincing online, but that doesn’t mean they know what they’re talking about.
Would you let a mechanic perform heart surgery? Of course not. And you wouldn’t let a heart surgeon fix your brakes either. Let’s trust vaccine experts with vaccines.
Helpful hints for navigating the internet (especially social media)
- Use social media for connection, not information. Memes aren’t medicine. TikToks aren’t peer-reviewed.
- Report harmful or misleading posts. Misinformation spreads fast—but so does truth, when we speak up.
- Think critically before you share or believe something:
- Who’s the author? What are their credentials?
- Are they trying to sell something—or stir up fear?
- Do the sources check out? Are they legitimate and unbiased?
- Does this feel too perfect because it agrees with what you already believe?
That last one is important—it’s called confirmation bias, and it’s something we all fall into sometimes.
The problem with “Doing my own research”
You’ve probably heard this before: “I don’t trust the experts—I do my own research.”
And sure, that sounds responsible at first. But here’s the thing—real research is a skill.
Unless you’ve been trained to:
- Recognize bias
- Analyze study design
- Interpret data and statistical significance
… it’s easy to misread things or be misled. A Google rabbit hole isn’t the same as years of scientific training.
THAT DOESN’T MEAN
you shouldn’t ask questions. You absolutely should. Just make sure you’re getting answers from people who know what they’re talking about.
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