Vaccine shedding

Vaccine shedding is a form of viral shedding[1][2] which can occasionally occur following a viral infection caused by an attenuated (or "live virus") vaccine. Illness in others resulting from transmission through this type of viral shedding is rare.[3][4] Most vaccines are not attenuated (live virus) vaccines,[5] and therefore cannot cause vaccine-induced viral shedding, though the idea of shedding is a popular anti-vaccination myth.[6]

The specific use of the term "vaccine shedding" has risen to public prominence through anti-vaccine activists linked to misinformation related to COVID-19, who erroneously claim that COVID-19 vaccination can cause individuals to shed coronavirus spike protein and affect menstruation and fertility in women exposed to them.[7][3][8][9][10] However, the spike protein generated by vaccination does not shed, and there is no evidence to suggest that these vaccines cause menstruation and fertility problems.[3][11] Vaccination also cannot cause shedding of the COVID-19 virus since none of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use by the FDA or the World Health Organization as of December 2021 are live-virus vaccines.[12][13] Despite this, a COVID-19 "vaccine shedding" conspiracy theory has subsequently emerged, leading to vaccine hesitancy among some people.[3][10][14]

Shedding is only possible with an attenuated vaccine. It is impossible with other vaccine technologies such as inactivated vaccine (killed-virus vaccines), viral vector vaccine, RNA vaccines (that contain no virus),[14] or subunit vaccines (a vaccine technology using only isolated proteins of a virus). Only a small number of vaccines use technology that contain live virus which can theoretically infect others.

With the exception of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), there have been no documented cases of vaccine-induced viral shedding that has infected contacts of a person vaccinated with an attenuated (live-virus) vaccine.[15]

  1. ^ Hall CB, Douglas Jr RG, Geiman JM, Meagher MP (1979). "Viral shedding patterns of children with influenza B infection". The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 140 (4): 610–613. doi:10.1093/infdis/140.4.610. PMID 512419.
  2. ^ Lee B, Kader MA, Colgate ER, Carmolli M, Dickson DM, Diehl SA, Alam M, Afreen S, Mychaleckyj JC, Nayak U, Petri WA, Haque R, Kirkpatrick BD (2021). "Oral rotavirus vaccine shedding as a marker of mucosal immunity". Scientific Reports. 11 (1). Nature: 21760. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-01288-1. PMC 8571310. PMID 34741103.
  3. ^ a b c d "Debunking the anti-vaccine hoax about 'vaccine shedding'". PolitiFact. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tosh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Types of vaccine". Vaccine Knowledge Project. University of Oxford. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference USAtoday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Johansen N (2021-04-22). "Kelowna store bans anyone who has received COVID-19 vaccine". Castanet. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  8. ^ Hannon E (2021-04-27). "Miami Private School Informs Parents Vaccinated Teachers "May Be Transmitting Something From Their Bodies"". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  9. ^ Mazzei P (2021-04-26). "A private school in Miami, citing false claims, bars vaccinated teachers from contact with students". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  10. ^ a b "The Latest Anti-Vax Myth: 'Vaccine Shedding'". MedPage Today. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  11. ^ "COVID-19 vaccines, irregular periods and spike protein shedding". Nebraska Medicine. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines". Atlanta, Ga.: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 4 October 2021.
  13. ^ "COVID 19 Vaccine Tracker". World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b "No, There's Absolutely Zero Chance of 'Vaccine Shedding' From the COVID-19 Vaccines-Here's Why". Health.com. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  15. ^ Gregory J (13 September 2021). "The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online". Encyclopedia Britannica. NewsGuard.