Vaccine misinformation has been a major problem in the United States amid a push to get Americans immunized against COVID-19, and one state is starting to take action to try and limit the spread of incorrect theories and beliefs, even as more people acknowledge that believing that information is in direct contradiction of what health experts suggest.

In an effort to combat the spread of vaccine misinformation, lawmakers in California are singling out websites that endorse inaccurate COVID-19 information, as Democrats in the state are calling for more rigorous vaccination laws, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.

California State Assembly Member Evan Low says that vaccine misinformation “threatens to further erode the public trust in the medical profession and puts all patients at risk.”

This comes as more Americans are beginning to acknowledge that they know their beliefs about vaccines may not be correct, meaning that the concerns about what this means publicly are only going to grow.

According to a survey from The COVID States Project, around 30% of Americans who believe in vaccine misinformation know that their perspectives contradict what health officials say based on science. This implies that explaining the science behind how vaccines work may not be enough to alter their opinions.

According to the survey, false vaccine information is “a public health concern”, as “it is widely seen as a factor affecting people’s behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.” It also clarified that 16% of Americans believe in vaccine misinformation. Republicans, Americans between the age of 25 and 44, and those who did not receive a college education are more likely to maintain inaccurate perceptions regarding the vaccine.

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