Posts on social media, including Instagram, claim that vaccines — specifically the COVID-19 vaccine — are responsible for Mississippi’s increased infant mortality rate.
We rate this claim misleading.
While vaccines, like any medical treatment, carry rare risks, health experts agree they are not the cause of Mississippi’s rising infant mortality rate. Public health experts point to medical complications and gaps in prenatal and postpartum care as the key drivers.
Read the fact check below to learn what the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s “What Is True?” research team uncovered.
Our team identified multiple social media posts linking Mississippi’s rising infant mortality rate to vaccines. These claims are misleading and can be potentially harmful for new mothers.
According to RHCJC News partners at Mississippi Free Press, Mississippi dropped from having the highest rate of childhood vaccinations in the United States to third place between 2003 and 2024, following a court ruling that allowed religious exemptions for early childhood vaccines, but this decline in vaccination rates is not tied to the state’s infant mortality trend.
The Mississippi State Department of Health reports the leading causes of infant mortality in the state are congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome — known as SIDS. MSDH reports the most effective ways to reduce infant deaths are through better access to prenatal and postpartum care, along with expanded resources for new mothers.
Severe allergic reactions to vaccines, such as anaphylaxis, are possible but rare, according to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The National Library of Medicine notes physicians can conduct clinical testing to identify potential allergic reactions in individuals before vaccination. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports vaccines given during pregnancy can provide passive immunity to infants after birth, protecting them from illnesses such as COVID-19 until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves. In addition, The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases highlights the overall safety and benefits of childhood vaccination.
This report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center as part of its “What Is True?” fact-checking service. The center’s researchers investigate local claims to help the public separate fact from fiction. To learn more or submit a claim for review, visit rhcjcnews.com/witreq.
