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
In June 2025, Kennedy summarily fired all 17 experts from ACIP and quickly replaced them with unvetted and unqualified anti-vaccine allies.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
Nevertheless, anti-vaccine groups have targeted the ingredient, claiming falsely that it is linked to autism.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Makary also came under fire from public health leaders, who accused him of catering to anti-vaccine activists.
—Connor Greene, Time, 12 May 2026
Some anti-vaccine groups have used Thorsen to paint a picture of corruption at the highest echelons of medical exploration.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 8 May 2026
The dashboard’s data on the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years saw incredibly poor vaccination rates for Zion D6, most notably with the measles vaccine, which has been the center of anti-vaccine rhetoric on the national level.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, has been particularly critical of mRNA technology, canceling hundreds of millions in research funding and making claims not backed by scientific evidence.
—Sneha S K, USA Today, 7 May 2026
On vaccines, an issue that has become something of a litmus test because of Kennedy’s history as an anti-vaccine advocate, Saphier appears to to oppose mandates while remaining firm that vaccination has positive impacts.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Last month, a judge issued a preliminary ruling against several of Kennedy’s most anti-vaccine moves at HHS.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026
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Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
Nevertheless, anti-vaccine groups have targeted the ingredient, claiming falsely that it is linked to autism.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Makary also came under fire from public health leaders, who accused him of catering to anti-vaccine activists.
—Connor Greene, Time, 12 May 2026
Some anti-vaccine groups have used Thorsen to paint a picture of corruption at the highest echelons of medical exploration.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 8 May 2026
The dashboard’s data on the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years saw incredibly poor vaccination rates for Zion D6, most notably with the measles vaccine, which has been the center of anti-vaccine rhetoric on the national level.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, has been particularly critical of mRNA technology, canceling hundreds of millions in research funding and making claims not backed by scientific evidence.
—Sneha S K, USA Today, 7 May 2026
On vaccines, an issue that has become something of a litmus test because of Kennedy’s history as an anti-vaccine advocate, Saphier appears to to oppose mandates while remaining firm that vaccination has positive impacts.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Last month, a judge issued a preliminary ruling against several of Kennedy’s most anti-vaccine moves at HHS.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anti-vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vaccine. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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