Comments on article support Arizona resolution to declare COVID-19 vaccines biological weapons

A recent article reported that the Arizona Republican Party passed a resolution that “declares the COVID-19 injections to be biological and technological weapons,” calling on the governor to “prohibit their distribution” and on the attorney general to “confiscate the vials and conduct a forensic analysis of their contents.” The resolution cites false claims that Pfizer’s clinical data showed “1,223 deaths” and “158,000 adverse incidents,” and that “evidence exists” that COVID-19 mRNA shots alter human DNA. Comments on the article echo those false claims and express concerns that the resolution will not pass.

Recommendation: Responding directly to false claims that COVID-19 vaccines are biological weapons may detract from priority talking points. Ensuring that community-based organizations and other partners in Arizona have informational materials that include prebunking messaging explaining that COVID-19 vaccines are safe is recommended. Messaging may emphasize that over three years of scientific evidence and global safety monitoring have shown mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and the residual DNA in the vaccines to be harmless. Adverse effects to COVID-19 vaccines are extremely rare, and staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines prevents severe illness, hospitalization, death, and long COVID.