Italy health authorities debunk diphtheria vaccine misinformation

A video circulating on social media contains false claims regarding the diphtheria vaccine, asserting that the immunization is unnecessary and contains “heavy metals and other garbage” that turn healthy people into patients. The video, posted on August 30, 2026, by pharmacist Paola Arminio from Casale Monferrato, has been widely shared by anti-vaccination groups.

The misinformation surfaced following the death of a four-year-old girl in Palermo from diphtheria, a case linked to the parents' decision not to vaccinate. In the video, Arminio cites her 30 years of experience to claim that various professionals, including doctors and politicians, have economic interests in maintaining a sick population.

Data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) contradicts these claims. The ISS notes that diphtheria vaccination has been mandatory in Italy since 1939 and has prevented approximately two million cases between 1939 and 2015. Before widespread vaccination, the disease caused tens of thousands of cases and roughly 1,500 child deaths annually. Between 2019 and August 2026, Italy recorded only 14 confirmed cases, mostly related to international travel. Furthermore, the ISS clarifies that the diphtheria component in current hexavalent vaccines uses aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant, not heavy metals.