Images of alleged vaccine-related blood clots circulate online

Images and videos of large blood clots that are allegedly linked to COVID-19 vaccines have resurfaced online. These images are circulating widely in English and Spanish-language posts, with social media users expressing concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety. 

Recommendation: Alarming images of blood clots allegedly linked to vaccines circulate periodically, with no source or evidence of a link to the vaccine. Trending social media posts sharing these images may undermine patients’ trust in COVID-19 vaccines. Talking points may emphasize that blood clots have been reported as an extremely rare adverse reaction to two non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Research shows that COVID-19 infection increases blood clot risk far more than any COVID-19 vaccine and that COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of post-COVID blood clots. The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older because staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe illness, hospitalization, long COVID, and death.