Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis fuels “turbo cancer” speculation

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 younger adults. 

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This conspiracy theory is the latest example of vaccine opponents attempting to baselessly link a high-profile illness or death to COVID-19 vaccines. These types of posts may cause patients to falsely attribute their own illnesses to COVID-19 vaccines and may discourage patients from staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. Messaging may emphasize that there is no increase in cancer diagnoses, progression of the disease, or deaths after COVID-19 vaccination. Debunking messaging may emphasize that “turbo cancer” is a term coined by vaccine opponents with no basis in medicine. The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.