Anti-Vaccination Dating Apps Expand IRL Presence Amidst Legal and Public Health Backlash
As niche dating platforms for unvaccinated singles move from digital interfaces to physical meetups, the sector faces scrutiny over public safety, civil rights claims, and the politicisation of bodily autonomy.
Anti-vaccination dating applications, including Unjected and PureBlood.Dating, are increasingly organising in-person social events for unvaccinated singles across the United States. The trend has sparked significant controversy, with venues such as Recess Beer Garden in Denver cancelling events due to harassment and hostile rhetoric from attendees. Unjected’s founder, Shelby Hosana, has filed a $4 million civil discrimination lawsuit against the venue. Experts warn that these gatherings pose public health risks as vaccine-preventable diseases rise in the US, while the events highlight the increasing politicisation of dating and bodily autonomy.
Unjected’s “Summer of Love” tour recently included a stop at Jonathan’s Grille in Nashville, attended by approximately 60 people, including attendees from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Florida. The Denver event, originally scheduled for May 12 at Recess Beer Garden, was moved to a new location and held on May 29, drawing over 150 people. Recess Beer Garden issued a statement clarifying it did not organise, sponsor, or authorise the event and cited “hostile rhetoric,” online attacks, and threats toward staff.
Unjected offers a premium tier called “Unjected Verified,” where users attest to their unvaccinated status by affidavit, operating on an honor system otherwise. The app was removed from the Apple App Store in 2021 for violating Covid misinformation policies but was reaccepted in autumn 2024. Other platforms in this niche include Unjabbed, NoVax.Singles, and Unjuiced.Date. Unjected has upcoming mixers scheduled in Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Oregon.
The expansion into physical events coincides with a broader industry shift, as dating apps seek to combat user fatigue through real-world meetups. However, the anti-vaccination niche frames these gatherings as a defence of bodily autonomy rather than merely a social tool. Hosana has characterised the movement as pro-freedom, arguing that individuals should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies without judgment or mandates. This stance has drawn sharp criticism from medical professionals, who point to the tangible risks posed by declining vaccination rates.
Public health experts have expressed concern over the potential for disease transmission at these gatherings. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noting a rise in vaccine-preventable illnesses such as measles and whooping cough, specialists argue that such events endanger public health. The legal and social friction surrounding these platforms underscores the deepening divide over health policy and personal choice in the American dating landscape.
