The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has come under fire for its “Protect Me With 3+” contest, which encourages children and teens to create posters and videos promoting vaccines. Critics argue that using children to “propagandize other children” is unethical. The contest, sponsored by the NJDOH and the Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey, is open to students in grades 5-12. Participants are required to create content raising awareness about the importance of vaccination against diseases such as Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Meningococcal ACWY, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Flu, and COVID-19.
The contest offers cash prizes ranging from $50 to $175 for winners, and three teachers whose classes submit the most entries will be awarded $75 each. However, medical and legal experts have raised concerns about using children to promote pharmaceutical products. Brian Hooker, a senior director of science and research at Children's Health Defense (CHD), called it “insidious manipulation” and accused the NJDOH of lying about the safety profile of vaccines.
Attorney Julio Gomez argued that the campaign goes against the NJDOH's mission of improving the well-being and quality of life for New Jerseyans. He criticized the lack of scientific evidence supporting the childhood vaccine program and accused the NJDOH of abandoning its mission.
Critics also highlighted ethical concerns about children promoting vaccines without adequate knowledge of their risks and benefits. Ann Rosen, a member of CHD's New Jersey chapter, pointed out that the contest fails to provide critical scientific information about the vaccines, resulting in misinformation being spread. Dominique Venezia, another CHD New Jersey chapter member, expressed concern about children endorsing something as new and potentially risky as vaccines.
The use of cash prizes as incentives was also criticized for pushing children in a certain direction without promoting critical thinking skills. Brianne Dressen, an advocate for vaccine injury victims, compared the contest to marketing campaigns that offer free donuts during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized that vaccination is a serious healthcare decision that requires thorough research.
Critics argued that the contest violates the principle of informed consent by not informing participants about the risk of vaccine injuries. Hooker warned that the vaccines being promoted, especially COVID-19 and HPV, have safety concerns and could lead to adverse events in children and adolescents. Gomez called for a critical scientific review of the childhood vaccine schedule and accused the NJDOH of disregarding the health and safety of the public.
Activists also highlighted the potential legal implications of the contest, accusing the NJDOH of using children as cheap labor to create marketing ads for pharmaceutical companies. They argued that raising awareness about vaccine benefits and risks should be the job of trained physicians, not government officials. Local activists criticized the state's involvement in such campaigns and accused the NJDOH of directly targeting children to bypass their parents.
In conclusion, the “Protect Me With 3+” contest organized by the New Jersey Department of Health has faced criticism for using children to promote vaccines. Critics argue that it is unethical to involve children in promoting pharmaceutical products without providing them with comprehensive information about the risks and benefits. The contest's use of cash prizes as incentives and its disregard for informed consent have also raised concerns. Activists have called for the contest to be stopped and for vaccine promotion to be handled by professionals rather than underage students and teachers.
