Anti-vaccine doctor promotes the “long vax” myth

A controversial physician whose board certification was revoked for promoting “false or inaccurate medical misinformation” claimed in a recent interview to have treated hundreds of patients with COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The doctor insists without evidence that 70 percent of the people he treats have so-called “long vax, not long COVID.” Posts sharing the interview claim that “long COVID is code for vaccine injuries.” The interview garnered over two million views in under 48 hours. 

Recommendation: These types of false claims promote confusion, downplay the risk of long COVID,  and may promote distrust in public health messaging about long COVID. The widespread nature of these claims elevates the risk. Talking points may emphasize that reports of long COVID predate COVID-19 vaccines by nearly a year, and there is no evidence that the condition is a vaccine side effect. On the contrary, research over the last three years has consistently shown that COVID-19 vaccination reduces long COVID risk. Instances of COVID-19 vaccines causing lasting side effects are extremely rare. The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.