A social media post claimed that the Avalanche, a Colorado-based National Hockey League team, is “killing and injuring” its players and staff by requiring COVID-19 vaccines. The post claimed that an Avalanche player who recently died by suicide was experiencing exacerbated mental illness symptoms due to COVID-19 vaccination. Recommendation: These...
Multiple social media posts cited a recent Ohio State University study to falsely claim that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. The study, which was published in Frontiers in Immunology in February, followed 112 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 infections and concluded with caution that...
A provision in the Texas State Budget prohibits promoting or advertising COVID-19 vaccines in 2024 and 2025, but still allows entities from the state health department to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. A recent news article about the provision has sparked discussion online, with most posts and comments advocating against it. Recommendation:...
A social media post falsely claimed that pharmaceutical companies in Massachusetts “manufactured” the COVID-19 pandemic for profit. The post attempted to back this false claim by stating that there are many pharmaceutical companies, including the headquarters of Moderna and Pfizer, in Massachusetts, and that the CDC director is from Massachusetts....
Social media posts in English and Spanish falsely blame COVID-19 vaccines for athletes’ recent health incidents. Specifically, the posts falsely claim that a tennis player’s collapse during the Miami Open and an Egyptian soccer player’s cardiac arrest were due to the COVID-19 vaccines. Recommendation: Vaccine opponents have a...
Within minutes of Kate Middleton revealing that she is in cancer treatment, some vaccine conspiracists began circulating the false claim that she has “turbo cancer” caused by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Several viral posts resurfaced misrepresented pre-pandemic cancer incidence data to claim that COVID-19 vaccines are behind rising cancer rates in...
The FDA recently settled a lawsuit with a group of doctors who sued the agency claiming it was interfering with their ability to practice medicine. The plaintiffs are known for spreading false information about vaccines. Ultimately, the court ruled that the FDA’s campaign slogan, “You are not a horse!...
A recently released study from Drexel University analyzed survey data from 40,000 high school students and found that teenagers who live through a hurricane, flood, tornado, or other climate disaster could be up to 20 percent more likely to experience mental distress. Although the link between mental health and...
A cardiologist who opposes vaccines and has a large social media platform spoke to the Arizona Senate Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee. In his speech, he falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have caused mass deaths. He also falsely claimed that ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Recommendation:...
Two vaccine exemption bills in Southern states are sparking conversation online. In West Virginia, HB 5105—which was passed by the House and Senate—would eliminate vaccine requirements in public virtual schools. In Oklahoma, HB 3249—which was passed by the House—would expand vaccine exemptions for daycare students. Vaccine...