Conspiracies emerge following the death of North Dakota senator

North Dakota State Senator Doug Larsen died in a plane crash on October 1, along with his wife and two children. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff and is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Despite the ongoing investigation, vaccine opponents on social media speculate that the senator’s support for a bill examining the long-term health effects of COVID-19 vaccines played a role in his death. Some posts allege government or pharmaceutical involvement in the senator’s death.

Risk level: Low

Recommendation: These types of conspiracies primarily spread in vaccine opponent circles by promoting government mistrust and vaccine hesitancy. This alert is provided for informational purposes for doctors and other health care providers in the Midwest.