Some of the first celebrities to advocate for vaccines did so to help combat polio.
From Grace Kelly to Elvis and Marilyn Monroe, stars lined up to support the efforts of the March of Dimes to end polio, with celebrity comedian Eddie Cantor leading the way.
Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Red Skelton, Johnny Cash, Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, and many others were a part of the Polio Crusade.
Before that though, there were celebrities that were working to fight smallpox. Celebrities of the time like Lewis Carroll, who is best known for writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.
Celebrity Vaccine Advocates
There are, not surprisingly, many pro-vaccine celebrities now too.
- Kristen Bell
- Jon Stewart
- Ewan McGregor
- John Oliver
- Jennifer Garner
- Olivia Wilde
- Amada Peet
- Lenny Kravitz
- David Beckham
- Keri Russel
- Julie Bowen
- Serena Williams
- Salma Hayek
- Christy Turlington Burns
- Kim Kardashian
- Jennifer Lopez
- Kristi Yamaguchi
- Marc Anthony
- Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Kendra Wilkinson
- Marissa Jaret Winokur
- Stephen Colbert
And like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the 1950s, many celebrity vaccine advocates work with organizations to help fight vaccine-preventable diseases and protect children.
Many, like Ewan McGregor and Salma Hayek, work with UNICEF.
Others promote flu vaccines, combat pertussis, or simply fight the anti-vaccine misinformation that is that out there.
More On Celebrities Who Advocate For Vaccines:
- Did Bill Gates Vaccinate His Own Kids?
- Vaccine Movies and Videos
- Where Are All of the Vaccine Advocates?
- Vaccine star: Actress Kristen Bell supports vaccination.
- Celebrity Moms Who Side With Science
- Celebrity Smackdown: Amanda Peet vs Jenny McCarthy
- 15 Celebrities Who Are Pro-Vaccine Activists
- 11 Celebrities Who Are Pro-Vaccination
- Hollywood’s Biggest Anti-Vaccine Proponents
- The Polio Crusade
- Eddie Cantor and the Origin of the March of Dimes
- Vaccines: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
- Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission
- Penn & Teller’s Bullshit on Vaccinations
- Les Measlesrables
- Colbert Report – Deadly Choices
- Colbert Report – Preventable Diseases on the Rise
- Colbert Report – The Importance of Vaccines