anti-vaccine
adjective
anti-vac·cine
ˌan-tē-vak-ˈsēn 
ˌan-ˌtī-
ˌan-ˌtī-
-ˈvak-ˌsēn
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
Unfortunately, the garbage that RFK spewed during his time as a private sector anti-vaccine crusader and is now trying to make government policy has had vaccine skepticism growing nationwide, with deadly consequences.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Some of the members, like Kennedy, have a history of anti-vaccine advocacy and involvement in anti-vaccine groups.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, the garbage that RFK spewed during his time as a private sector anti-vaccine crusader and is now trying to make government policy as the nation’s top public health official has had vaccine skepticism growing nationwide, with deadly consequences.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Kennedy was a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The decision comes as the White House has worked to move away from vaccine policy reforms, a signature issue for Kennedy, who previously created and led the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
The idea that our Secretary of Health could be someone who is a leading anti-vaccine advocate and to put in place at the federal level an advisory committee stacked with anti-vaccine advocates endangered the health of children in America.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
The decision is a setback for Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist who promised to restore trust in the public health agencies, but whose controversial policies have created confusion among pediatricians and contributed to more distrust of childhood vaccination, experts say.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
Last year, Kennedy also dismissed the entirety of the agency’s independent vaccine-advisory group, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and replaced it with a more anti-vaccine cohort.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
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Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Some of the members, like Kennedy, have a history of anti-vaccine advocacy and involvement in anti-vaccine groups.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, the garbage that RFK spewed during his time as a private sector anti-vaccine crusader and is now trying to make government policy as the nation’s top public health official has had vaccine skepticism growing nationwide, with deadly consequences.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Kennedy was a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The decision comes as the White House has worked to move away from vaccine policy reforms, a signature issue for Kennedy, who previously created and led the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
The idea that our Secretary of Health could be someone who is a leading anti-vaccine advocate and to put in place at the federal level an advisory committee stacked with anti-vaccine advocates endangered the health of children in America.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
The decision is a setback for Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist who promised to restore trust in the public health agencies, but whose controversial policies have created confusion among pediatricians and contributed to more distrust of childhood vaccination, experts say.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
Last year, Kennedy also dismissed the entirety of the agency’s independent vaccine-advisory group, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and replaced it with a more anti-vaccine cohort.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anti-vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vaccine. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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