A screenshot of the Pinterest mobile app. (Photo11: Pinterest, for USA TODAY (HUI)

You may notice something unusual when you search for "vaccines" or "vaccinations" on Pinterest: no results.

The social media site has blocked all searches using terms related to vaccines or vaccinations as part of a plan to prevent the spread of misinformation related to anti-vaxx publications.

When you try to search for "vaccination," Pinterest instead displays the following message: "The pins on this topic often violate the guidelines of our community, so we can not display the results of the search."

Pinterest could not be immediately reached for comment. In a statement to CNBC, the social media platform said it banned all vaccine searches until it could find a permanent solution.

"We want Pinterest to be an inspiring place for people, and misinformation is not an inspiration," Pinterest spokeswoman CNBC said. "That's why we continue to look for new ways to preserve the misleading content of our platform and recommendation engine."

Pinterest told CNBC that the majority of images shared on its vaccine platform warned people against them.

Social media sites are already struggling to manage users' anti-vaxx publications as part of a measles outbreak in the state of Washington, affecting more than 60 people.

More: What you need to know about the measles outbreak that has affected more than 60 people in Washington and is a hot spot anti-vaccination

More: Her son defies mother and chooses to be vaccinated at 18: "God knows how I'm still alive"

Last week, Facebook confirmed that it had "taken steps" to reduce the number of false health information on its platform, and even plans to hide anti-vaxx publications.

The responses follow a letter from D-Calif's representative Adam Schiff, accusing sites like Facebook and Instagram of contributing to the dissemination of false information about vaccines.

People who choose not to vaccinate have become a global threat to health in 2019, reported the World Health Organization. In addition, the CDC recognized that the number of children who had not been vaccinated before the age of 24 months was gradually increasing.

Some parents choose not to vaccinate because of the discredited belief that vaccines are linked to autism. The CDC said that there was no link and that there were no ingredients in vaccines that could cause autism.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @ brettmolina23.

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