variants
or less commonly antivaccine
: opposed to the use of vaccines
A handful of parents and anti-vaccine activists told lawmakers … that they believe vaccines are responsible for countless cases of autism, learning disabilities and death.—
Jim Hughes
Jim Hughes… the rising global threat of antivaccine sentiments and vaccine misinformation contributed to the WHO [=World Health Organization] classifying vaccine hesitancy as a top ten global health threat in 2019 …—David M. Higgins and Sean T. O'Leary
David M. Higgins and Sean T. O'LearyExamples of anti-vaccine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most of the new members have little to no expertise for the panel, and several share the same anti-vaccine and contrarian public health views as Kennedy.
—ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Although not named in the letter, this is in reference to Lyn Redwood, a former president of the Children's Health Defense, a group founded by Kennedy that pursues anti-vaccine causes.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 10 July 2025
The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.
—arkansasonline.com, 8 July 2025
Several major medical organizations are suing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over recent high-profile anti-vaccine actions.
—Josh Feldman, NBC news, 8 July 2025
Kennedy, who has a long history of anti-vaccine actions, also fired 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with seven new members, some of whom have raised questions about safety and efficacy of vaccines.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
The plaintiffs, which include the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, claim Kennedy’s recent decisions were designed to mislead, confuse and desensitize the public to anti-vaccine and anti-science rhetoric.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 7 July 2025
This panel of seven replaced the 17 ACIP members Kennedy fired last month in order to stack the committee with members who share his anti-vaccine agenda.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
In 2019, large outbreaks in New York threatened elimination status; those outbreaks were concentrated in Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and Rockland County that had been targeted with anti-vaccine disinformation for years.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
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ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Although not named in the letter, this is in reference to Lyn Redwood, a former president of the Children's Health Defense, a group founded by Kennedy that pursues anti-vaccine causes.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 10 July 2025
The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.
—arkansasonline.com, 8 July 2025
Several major medical organizations are suing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over recent high-profile anti-vaccine actions.
—Josh Feldman, NBC news, 8 July 2025
Kennedy, who has a long history of anti-vaccine actions, also fired 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with seven new members, some of whom have raised questions about safety and efficacy of vaccines.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
The plaintiffs, which include the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, claim Kennedy’s recent decisions were designed to mislead, confuse and desensitize the public to anti-vaccine and anti-science rhetoric.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 7 July 2025
This panel of seven replaced the 17 ACIP members Kennedy fired last month in order to stack the committee with members who share his anti-vaccine agenda.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
In 2019, large outbreaks in New York threatened elimination status; those outbreaks were concentrated in Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and Rockland County that had been targeted with anti-vaccine disinformation for years.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anti-vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vaccine. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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