• Groups favorably to child vaccination represented 48.7% of profiles and celebrated the measure in the country, questioning alleged deaths and complications in children due to the immunization.
• The news that a child allegedly experienced cardiorespiratory arrest days after being vaccinated inflamed the discussion in the group opposing child vaccination on Twitter, which accounted for 30.9% of the profiles in the debate.

From January 11 to 24, there were 705.3 thousand posts on Twitter mentioning child vaccination against Covid-19 in Brazil, according to a study organized by the Department of Public Policy Analysis at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV DAPP). With a majority favoring the measure, most of the debate focused on sharing news and images of children receiving the immunization in several locations in the country.

The top three hashtags in the period were #derrubamalafaia (take down Malafaia), protesting against statements made by the pastor Silas Malafaia in which he said child vaccination was “infanticide”, in 34.3 thousand tweets; #vacinassalvamvidas (vaccines save lives) in 6.6 thousand tweets; and #vacinaparacriancasja (child vaccines now), with 4.3 thousand tweets.

Evolution of the debate about child vaccination on Twitter
Period: January 11 to 24

Source: Twitter | Elaborated by: FGV DAPP

The debate obtained more engagement on January 20, with 98 thousand tweets reacting (with both warnings and criticism) to the news that a child allegedly experienced cardiorespiratory arrest after receiving the immunization in Lençóis Paulistas (SP).

Another topic with a large volume of mobilization on that day was an order given by the Supreme Court minister Ricardo Lewandowski, denying a request to include child vaccination against Covid-19 in the National Immunization Plan.

Map of interactions in the debate about child vaccination on Twitter
Period: Period: January 11 to 24

Source: Twitter | Elaborated by: FGV DAPP

Blue – 30.90% of profiles | 45.62% of interactions
Group composed of right-wing politicians and bloggers and conservative alternative media channels, who commented on the news that a child in Lençóis Paulista (SP) allegedly experienced cardiorespiratory arrest after being vaccinated against Covid-19 and protested against child vaccination in the country. In this group, many profiles also discussed parents’ rights over decisions involving their children made by governors and other authorities who authorize child vaccination, claiming that the potential adverse effects of vaccines are still unknown and that the vaccine was experimental, therefore, a risk for children.

Red – 34.59% of profiles | 35.11% of interactions
Including political activists, digital influencers and alternative media channels opposing the federal government, this group questions the information that a child – who supposedly has a congenital disease – allegedly died due to complications stemming from the Covid-19 vaccine in Alagoas. Publications commented on an alleged visit organized by the ministers Marcelo Queiroga (Health) and Damares Alves (Human Rights) to the victim’s family and questioned how many Covid-19 victims have been visited by members of the federal government so far. This group also criticized statements made by the pastor Silas Malafaia claiming that child vaccination is “infanticide”.

Green – 5.29% of profiles | 3.25% of interactions
Group including journalists and profiles of ordinary users, who celebrated the beginning of child vaccination against Covid-19 in several locations in Brazil, sharing statistics, news and images of children being vaccinated.

Lilac – 4.29% of profiles | 2.41% of interactions
Group mobilized by media portals around a viral post questioning the exaggerated concerns regarding potential adverse effects of child vaccination, comparing it to the alleged neglect by parents and authorities regarding the consequences of using toxic pesticides in food consumed by Brazilian children.

Orange – 4.54% of profiles | 2.42% of interactions
Group of profiles of ordinary citizens centered around a viral post with an optimistic and funny message sent by an autistic child after receiving their first shot of the vaccine against Covid-19, stating that they were very happy.