Political hearing includes allegations about health impacts of COVID-19 vaccines

A U.S. representative from Georgia hosted a hearing on alleged injuries caused by COVID-19 vaccines. The panel included medical experts known for opposing vaccines and an attorney who was involved in federal vaccine-related lawsuits. The hearing included allegations that COVID-19 vaccines cause death, miscarriage, myocarditis, blood clots, cardiac arrest, fertility issues, and neurological problems, and some panelists suggested that COVID-19 vaccines are part of a “depopulation plan.” One panelist presented an individual who claimed to have received a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine five times in 2014, suggesting that the pandemic was planned years in advance to create profits from vaccines.

Risk level: High

Recommendation: These types of events may promote vaccine hesitancy, especially when false claims are coming from medical experts and political officials. It is recommended doctors be prepared to answer questions about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Messaging may emphasize that severe adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines are extremely rare, that the benefits of vaccination outweigh any potential risks across age groups, and that COVID-19 vaccines are not part of a “depopulation plan,” because they prevent severe illness and death.