Brazilian Social Media Anti-vaccine Information Disorder Dataset -- Telegram (2020-2025)

Researchers led by João Phillipe Cardenuto and colleagues at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) have published a comprehensive dataset capturing anti-vaccine information disorder on Telegram across Brazil from 2020 to 2025. The dataset comprises approximately 4 million posts scraped from 119 public channels known for spreading vaccine-related misinformation. It includes full message content, metadata, associated media, and classification labels indicating whether posts are directly about vaccines. This resource is designed to fill a critical gap in public health research, as Telegram remains the only major social platform that allows accessible and ethical data collection on such disinformation. The team made the dataset and documentation openly available under strict ethical and privacy guidelines, emphasizing non-commercial research use only.

Brazil has seen a troubling decline in vaccination coverage over the past decade, reversing gains from its National Immunization Program (PNI). The researchers argue that widespread social media misinformation is a key driver of this trend, and their dataset provides a granular view of how false narratives emerge, spread, and evolve over time. By enabling longitudinal analysis of anti-vaccine content, the dataset can help researchers identify influential channels, track narrative shifts, and measure the impact of counter-messaging. The work aligns with global efforts to combat health misinformation and support evidence-based public health interventions.