Past insights
Last week, a Tennessee woman who had been fired from Blue Cross Blue Shield for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine won a $700,000 settlement. Within a day, news of the settlement spread across multiple news outlets and social media platforms. Some social media users called the woman a...
On July 3, a Colorado dairy farm worker became the fourth person to contract H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. this year. The person only reported eye symptoms and has fully recovered after treatment. The CDC reported that the risk to humans remains low and that farm workers who...
Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) announced that as of July 1, the state had 126 cases of whooping cough—more than double the number of cases last year—and recommended that residents stay up to date on whooping cough vaccines. WDHS shared its recommendations on social...
On June 24, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a 2021 Connecticut law that does not allow religious exemptions for vaccine mandates in schools, colleges, and daycare facilities. The “health freedom” group that filed the lawsuit argued that the law violated parents’ religious freedom. Within a day, news of...
A widely-circulated blog post falsely claims that routine childhood vaccines have few benefits and many serious side effects. The article argues that vaccines are unnecessary because childhood diseases are no longer a threat and repeats myths about the safety of many vaccines. Recommendation: Trending blog posts promoting false claims about...
Vaccine opponents are circulating a new Italian study that claims to have found a decrease in life expectancy following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The study assessed death from any cause in people who were unvaccinated and those who had received one or more vaccine doses, finding that a higher number of...
In late June, the CDC recommended that people 6 months and older receive updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the fall. Social media posts in English and Spanish criticized the recommendation, arguing that the vaccines are unnecessary and unsafe. Recommendation: News about the CDC’s fall COVID-19 vaccine recommendations may...
On June 25, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory declaring that gun violence is a public health emergency and cited data demonstrating that gun violence negatively impacts mental health. Within hours, several news outlets covered the advisory, and conversations about it spread across multiple social media platforms. The official...
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that after Texas banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for congenital abnormalities, infant death rates in the state increased by 12.9 percent, while infant death rates only increased by 1.8 percent throughout the rest of the...
On June 22, a post on X warned that “Narcan is less effective when put in high temperatures and exposed to sunlight,” and encouraged readers to keep their Narcan “somewhere cool and shady.” The post received 45,000 views; 1,800 likes; and 1000 shares as of June 27. In...
A Florida mother proposed a bill called Cody’s Law that would allow people with alleged COVID-19 vaccine injuries to receive expedited Medicaid. Last week, she and several other social media users posted about the bill across multiple platforms, tagging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and asking him to support the...
In multiple news articles last week, Colorado public health officials urged residents to stay up to date on recommended vaccines as outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles occur across the country. One article reported that only 88 percent of the state’s kindergarten students have received their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine....
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...
Last week, a New York midwife pleaded guilty to destroying 2,600 COVID-19 vaccines, distributing a corresponding number of fake COVID-19 vaccine cards, and falsely reporting COVID-19 vaccinations to the state’s database. According to the midwife’s lawyer, “She believes that her actions were justified by moral necessity though...
An article on a conspiracy news website recently shared the story of a Minneapolis photojournalist who claims to be experiencing weakness, headaches, and brain fog due to an alleged COVID-19 vaccine injury. The story was published on another conspiracy news website and shared on multiple social media platforms. Comments on...
The Kansas attorney general is suing Pfizer for misrepresenting COVID-19 vaccine safety and covering up risks, specifically pregnancy complications and heart inflammation. As with a similar lawsuit in Texas, some social media posts from vaccine opponents in both English and Spanish are using the allegations in the suit to claim...
Several large social media accounts are circulating false claims about hepatitis B vaccines, including myths that the vaccine is unsafe and unnecessary for infants. One post falsely claims that the disease doesn’t pose a risk to babies and that the vaccine contains a toxic amount of aluminum. Recommendation: Trending...
A Florida mother proposed a bill called Cody’s Law that would allow people with alleged COVID-19 vaccine injuries to receive expedited Medicaid. Last week, she and several other social media users posted about the bill across multiple platforms, tagging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and asking him to support the...
In multiple news articles last week, Colorado public health officials urged residents to stay up to date on recommended vaccines as outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles occur across the country. One article reported that only 88 percent of the state’s kindergarten students have received their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine....
Last week, a New York midwife pleaded guilty to destroying 2,600 COVID-19 vaccines, distributing a corresponding number of fake COVID-19 vaccine cards, and falsely reporting COVID-19 vaccinations to the state’s database. According to the midwife’s lawyer, “She believes that her actions were justified by moral necessity though...
An article on a conspiracy news website recently shared the story of a Minneapolis photojournalist who claims to be experiencing weakness, headaches, and brain fog due to an alleged COVID-19 vaccine injury. The story was published on another conspiracy news website and shared on multiple social media platforms. Comments on...
Several large social media accounts are circulating false claims about hepatitis B vaccines, including myths that the vaccine is unsafe and unnecessary for infants. One post falsely claims that the disease doesn’t pose a risk to babies and that the vaccine contains a toxic amount of aluminum. Recommendation: Trending...
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...
The Kansas attorney general is suing Pfizer for misrepresenting COVID-19 vaccine safety and covering up risks, specifically pregnancy complications and heart inflammation. As with a similar lawsuit in Texas, some social media posts from vaccine opponents in both English and Spanish are using the allegations in the suit to claim...
This week, a celebrity news website reported on the singer Usher’s strict exercise routine and diet, which involves intermittent fasting. A post on X shared the article with text that reads, “People be having eating disorders and call it everything BUT that.” The post received more than 644,000...
On June 13, the Supreme Court voted to uphold access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Voting against this case would have reversed the FDA's decision to expand access to mifepristone. The decision sparked online conversation across several social media platforms—primarily on X. One post on X from...
A “health freedom” group in Georgia recently shared a 2018 social media post criticizing the Electronic Fetal Death Registration System for not recording pregnant people’s vaccination history. The post’s author claimed to be a death certificate clerk and argued that pregnant people who got vaccinated were “risking their...
On June 11, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to remove the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees. Employees who were previously terminated or voluntarily left their positions after refusing to get vaccinated can now reapply. However, a group of city workers who were fired due to vaccine refusal...
Maine Access Points, a harm reduction program in Maine, is facing criticism on news websites and on social media after promoting safer consumption practices. The nonprofit recently shared information online and in safer consumption kits explaining a practice colloquially known as “boofing,” in which a drug is consumed through the...
On June 10, Moderna reported positive results from a late-stage clinical trial of a combination mRNA-based flu and COVID-19 vaccine for adults 50 and older. Many online users expressed skepticism about the vaccine, with some declaring that they would never take it. Other posts went further, claiming that they would...
On June 11, a former nurse practitioner in New York was sentenced to 840 hours of community service and five years of probation for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards. She was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million. Several comments on a YouTube video of the nurse speaking on the...
A recent social media post from an anti-vaccine account shared a story of a pharmacist who claims to have developed Guillain-Barré syndrome after having received a COVID-19 vaccine as mandated by their employer. The post then urged followers to support Ohio House Bill 319, which aims to prevent discrimination based...
Social media posts in both English and Spanish reacted to Reuters’s report about a clandestine Pentagon anti-vaccine campaign to discredit China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. Posts shared quotes and parts of the report while criticizing the Pentagon’s actions, especially its role in undermining broader public health efforts in...
Several popular posts attacking routine vaccines are circulating online. Vaccine opponents continue to misrepresent the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to overturn the dismissal of an anti-vaccine mandate lawsuit, claiming it proves that health officials lied about COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness. An attorney who has led many anti-vaccine...
A recent social media post from an anti-vaccine account shared a story of a pharmacist who claims to have developed Guillain-Barré syndrome after having received a COVID-19 vaccine as mandated by their employer. The post then urged followers to support Ohio House Bill 319, which aims to prevent discrimination based...
A “health freedom” group in Georgia recently shared a 2018 social media post criticizing the Electronic Fetal Death Registration System for not recording pregnant people’s vaccination history. The post’s author claimed to be a death certificate clerk and argued that pregnant people who got vaccinated were “risking their...
On June 11, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to remove the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees. Employees who were previously terminated or voluntarily left their positions after refusing to get vaccinated can now reapply. However, a group of city workers who were fired due to vaccine refusal...
On June 10, Moderna reported positive results from a late-stage clinical trial of a combination mRNA-based flu and COVID-19 vaccine for adults 50 and older. Many online users expressed skepticism about the vaccine, with some declaring that they would never take it. Other posts went further, claiming that they would...
On June 11, a former nurse practitioner in New York was sentenced to 840 hours of community service and five years of probation for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards. She was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million. Several comments on a YouTube video of the nurse speaking on the...
Several popular posts attacking routine vaccines are circulating online. Vaccine opponents continue to misrepresent the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to overturn the dismissal of an anti-vaccine mandate lawsuit, claiming it proves that health officials lied about COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness. An attorney who has led many anti-vaccine...
Social media posts in both English and Spanish reacted to Reuters’s report about a clandestine Pentagon anti-vaccine campaign to discredit China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. Posts shared quotes and parts of the report while criticizing the Pentagon’s actions, especially its role in undermining broader public health efforts in...
Last week, multiple sports news outlets reported that professional soccer player Lionel Messi recently opened up about his experience seeking mental health treatment. Messi said that while he was initially reluctant to see a psychologist, “...it did me a lot of good, I really liked it, and it helped me....
In a recent series of investigative articles, STAT reported that many pregnant people with sickle cell disease have received tubal ligations from health care providers without being adequately informed that the procedure would be permanent. Although patients must sign consent forms before undergoing these kinds of procedures, experts quoted in...
Last week, the New York Times and the Baltimore Banner reported that Black men in their “mid-50s to early 70s” in Baltimore account for nearly 30 percent of overdose deaths, despite making up just seven percent of Baltimore’s population. According to the New York Times article, “Black men of...
A team of researchers from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and The Immunization Partnership recently reviewed witness statements from hearings during the 2021 Texas legislative session about vaccine requirements. Their study shed light on anti-vaccine arguments that have influenced public policy. Top concerns in witness testimonies included...
The California Department of Public Health recently warned of a possible whooping cough outbreak in the state as cases rise across the country. Public health officials are encouraging residents to keep themselves and their children up to date on vaccinations and seek immediate treatment if they experience symptoms. Recommendation: The...
Last week, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) reported a case of measles in a New Jersey resident who had recently traveled internationally. The NJDOH warned that people who were at the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center Emergency Department on June 1 may have been exposed and encouraged all...
Last week, several vaccine opponents with large social media platforms cited an Ohio State University study to falsely claim that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. This study initially circulated on the social media accounts of vaccine opponents in March. The study, which was published in...
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the dismissal of a lawsuit against the state of California over the now-expired COVID-19 vaccine mandates for Los Angeles school employees. The ruling allows the case to move forward, a year after a lower district court dismissed the suit because a previous Supreme...
A new study published in BMJ assessed data from 47 countries from Our World in Data between 2020 and 2022, finding a total of three million reported excess deaths, with 2021 having the highest number of reported deaths. The study concluded that “excess mortality has remained high in the Western...
The California Department of Public Health recently warned of a possible whooping cough outbreak in the state as cases rise across the country. Public health officials are encouraging residents to keep themselves and their children up to date on vaccinations and seek immediate treatment if they experience symptoms. Recommendation: This...
A new study found that 7 percent of U.S. adults have had long COVID. Among its findings, the study discovered that women were more likely to report having long COVID and that adults who had received a COVID-19 booster had lower rates of the condition compared to people who...
Last week, several vaccine opponents with large social media platforms cited an Ohio State University study to falsely claim that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. This study initially circulated on the social media accounts of vaccine opponents in March. The study, which was published in...
A team of researchers from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and The Immunization Partnership recently reviewed witness statements from hearings during the 2021 Texas legislative session about vaccine requirements. Their study shed light on anti-vaccine arguments that have influenced public policy. Top concerns in witness testimonies included...
A new study published in BMJ assessed data from 47 countries from Our World in Data between 2020 and 2022, finding a total of three million reported excess deaths, with 2021 having the highest number of reported deaths. The study concluded that “excess mortality has remained high in the Western...
Last week, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) reported a case of measles in a New Jersey resident who had recently traveled internationally. The NJDOH warned that people who were at the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center Emergency Department on June 1 may have been exposed and encouraged all...
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the dismissal of a lawsuit against the state of California over the now-expired COVID-19 vaccine mandates for Los Angeles school employees. The ruling allows the case to move forward, a year after a lower district court dismissed the suit because a previous Supreme...
A new study found that 7 percent of U.S. adults have had long COVID. Among its findings, the study discovered that women were more likely to report having long COVID and that adults who had received a COVID-19 booster had lower rates of the condition compared to people who...
In May, Wisconsin health officials reinstituted a meningitis vaccine requirement for students entering 7th grade and a booster for students entering 12th grade. The requirement will take effect in the 2024-25 school year. In response to recent news articles about the vaccine requirement, some social media users are expressing gratitude...
After Philadelphia's mayor proposed cutting funding for the city’s syringe services programs (SSPs), the CDC sent a letter to the director of the Penn Center for AIDS Research warning that cutting funding to SSPs could result in an HIV outbreak. In response to a social media post...
June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, and recent social media posts about men’s mental health gained widespread attention across platforms. A popular Instagram account shared a post urging men to seek mental health support. The post received more than 1.3 million likes, and several comments...
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines stating that HIV-positive birthing parents can safely breastfeed if they are undergoing antiretroviral treatment and their viral load is undetectable. In response to news articles about these guidelines, some social media users claimed that breastfeeding as an HIV-positive birthing parent is “not...
A preprint study authored by several known opponents of the COVID-19 vaccines claims to have found an association between an increase in COVID-19 vaccinations and an increase in cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops functioning, causing loss of consciousness and breathing) deaths in King County, Washington. As of June...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are developing an mRNA vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu. The vaccine—which was tested in mice and ferrets but has not yet gone through clinical trials—could help manage the bird flu outbreak in birds and cattle and prevent human infections. In response...
Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams shared a social media post using the pertussis outbreak in Kentucky to illustrate the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Some social media users who commented on the post argued that practices such as covering coughs and taking vitamins are sufficient to prevent the spread...
Several popular vaccine opponents are repeating the old myth that COVID-19 vaccines and other routine immunizations are linked to autism, citing rising autism diagnoses since the 1970s. Many of the posts blame the addition of new vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, to the childhood immunization schedule. Others claim that there is...
A viral post claims that the Mayo Clinic rejected a lung transplant patient until they received COVID-19 vaccination. Although the original post criticized the policy, a majority of the responses questioned why anyone would trust doctors to transplant organs and provide lifelong post-transplant care but not to advise on pre-transplant...
A preprint Oxford University study examined outcomes after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination among children and adolescents in the U.K. The study found that incidents of heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) were only reported in vaccinated participants, leading vaccine opponents to falsely claim that heart inflammation only occurs after COVID-19 vaccination,...
In May, Wisconsin health officials reinstituted a meningitis vaccine requirement for students entering 7th grade and a booster for students entering 12th grade. The requirement will take effect in the 2024-25 school year. In response to recent news articles about the vaccine requirement, some social media users are expressing gratitude...
Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams shared a social media post using the pertussis outbreak in Kentucky to illustrate the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Some social media users who commented on the post argued that practices such as covering coughs and taking vitamins are sufficient to prevent the spread...
A preprint study authored by several known opponents of the COVID-19 vaccines claims to have found an association between an increase in COVID-19 vaccinations and an increase in cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops functioning, causing loss of consciousness and breathing) deaths in King County, Washington. As of June...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are developing an mRNA vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu. The vaccine—which was tested in mice and ferrets but has not yet gone through clinical trials—could help manage the bird flu outbreak in birds and cattle and prevent human infections. In response...
Several popular vaccine opponents are repeating the old myth that COVID-19 vaccines and other routine immunizations are linked to autism, citing rising autism diagnoses since the 1970s. Many of the posts blame the addition of new vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, to the childhood immunization schedule. Others claim that there is...
A viral post claims that the Mayo Clinic rejected a lung transplant patient until they received COVID-19 vaccination. Although the original post criticized the policy, a majority of the responses questioned why anyone would trust doctors to transplant organs and provide lifelong post-transplant care but not to advise on pre-transplant...
A preprint Oxford University study examined outcomes after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination among children and adolescents in the U.K. The study found that incidents of heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) were only reported in vaccinated participants, leading vaccine opponents to falsely claim that heart inflammation only occurs after COVID-19 vaccination,...
May is Older Americans Month, “a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities.” This year’s theme is “Powered by Connection.” Throughout the month, government agencies, community organizations, and social media users have been sharing how...
Last week, the Maternal Mental Health Task Force recommended creating maternity care centers to combat the maternal mental health crisis, as cases of postpartum depression have dramatically increased since 2010. News articles about this recommendation, which have been circulating on social media, explain that there is inadequate screening and support...
A Utah woman who claims she became disabled after participating in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial is suing AstraZeneca. She claims that the company breached its contract by failing to adequately cover the medical expenses associated with her alleged vaccine injury. After the New York Post covered this woman’s...
Last week, multiple media outlets reported that overdose deaths in the United States have declined slightly for the first time in five years, according to preliminary data from the CDC. This news prompted discussion across multiple social media platforms. Some social media users celebrated the decline in overdose deaths and...
Last week, a “health freedom” group in Michigan shared a social media post claiming, without evidence, that a 17-year-old girl died shortly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Comments on the post express concerns about vaccine mandates for students. One social media user wrote, “They are still requiring healthy young kids...
Louisiana recently passed a bill that would ban the World Health Organization, United Nations, and World Economic Forum from having “any jurisdiction or power” within the state. Some social media users and “health freedom” groups are hoping that this bill will prevent Louisiana from being affected by the WHO pandemic...
A new JAMA study found that COVID-19 remains deadlier than the flu, with 35 percent higher mortality in hospitalized patients between October 2023 and March 2024. Although the overall risk of death from COVID-19 has declined over time, it is still “substantially higher” than the risk of death from the...
Last week, a New York-based social media user with a large following shared a viral series of posts celebrating the importance of vaccines. She wrote that she once contracted whooping cough as an adult after her childhood whooping cough vaccine wore off. Her 2 misdiagnosed her with asthma, which resulted...
A Utah woman who claims she became disabled after participating in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial is suing AstraZeneca. She claims that the company breached its contract by failing to adequately cover the medical expenses associated with her alleged vaccine injury. After the New York Post covered this woman’s...
Several social media posts in both English and Spanish resurfaced the misleading claim that health insurance programs “bribed” doctors to administer COVID-19 vaccines. A far-right site posted a video of an anti-vaccine doctor “revealing” that “doctors were being bribed to push” the vaccine. Recommendation: This misleading claim has been circulating...
A conspiracy theory circulating in English and Spanish claims without evidence that a recent assassination attempt on Slovakia’s prime minister is related to his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and the WHO pandemic treaty. A U.S. congressperson and other high-profile figures shared a viral post that falsely claims that...
Last week, a “health freedom” group in Michigan shared a social media post claiming, without evidence, that a 17-year-old girl died shortly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Comments on the post express concerns about vaccine mandates for students. One social media user wrote, “They are still requiring healthy young kids...
Louisiana recently passed a bill that would ban the World Health Organization, United Nations, and World Economic Forum from having “any jurisdiction or power” within the state. Some social media users and “health freedom” groups are hoping that this bill will prevent Louisiana from being affected by the WHO pandemic...
Last week, a New York-based social media user with a large following shared a viral series of posts celebrating the importance of vaccines. She wrote that she once contracted whooping cough as an adult after her childhood whooping cough vaccine wore off. Her doctor misdiagnosed her with asthma, which resulted...
Several social media posts in both English and Spanish resurfaced the misleading claim that health insurance programs “bribed” doctors to administer COVID-19 vaccines. A far-right site posted a video of an anti-vaccine doctor “revealing” that “doctors were being bribed to push” the vaccine. Recommendation: This misleading claim has been circulating...
A conspiracy theory circulating in English and Spanish claims without evidence that a recent assassination attempt on Slovakia’s prime minister is related to his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and the WHO pandemic treaty. A U.S. congressperson and other high-profile figures shared a viral post that falsely claims that...
A new JAMA study found that COVID-19 remains deadlier than the flu, with 35 percent higher mortality in hospitalized patients between October 2023 and March 2024. Although the overall risk of death from COVID-19 has declined over time, it is still “substantially higher” than the risk of death from the...
A recent viral social media post from psychologist and author Jordan Peterson falsely claimed that gender-affirming health care causes children to die by suicide. As of May 16, the post received 941,800 views, 34,000 likes, and 6,700 shares. Recommendation: Trending conversations about gender-affirming health care for transgender...
This week, Louisiana legislators introduced a bill that would criminalize giving abortion pills to a pregnant person without the pregnant person’s consent. The bill also categorizes abortion pills as controlled dangerous substances, a class of drugs that includes narcotics, steroids, and depressants. A group of Louisiana doctors sent a...
On a recent episode of the late-night television show Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver discussed opioid settlement funds. Oliver argued that local governments are not using these funds in the most effective ways and said the funds should be used to support harm reduction services such as overdose prevention...
Last week, a school board in Cypress, Texas, voted to remove a list of “controversial” topics from textbooks. Banned topics include vaccines, human development, climate and conservation, and diversity and culture. The decision gained widespread attention across social media platforms, with some social media users expressing support for the school...
A recent viral social media post included a video of a Colorado representative who said that the state is monitoring dairy farmers who were exposed to bird flu. The author of the post claims that Pfizer representatives are “working closely with political leaders to develop a cure,” and questioning, “what...
Last week, a news anchor said on a podcast that he has been taking ivermectin daily to treat long COVID, despite having spoken out against ivermectin in the past. A video clip from the podcast sparked widespread conversation on social media, with some social media users promoting ivermectin as a...
An Ohio doctor whose medical license was suspended last year after she promoted false claims about vaccine safety had her medical license reinstated last week. Some social media users are celebrating the reinstatement of the doctor’s license and stating that she was falsely accused of being a “conspiracy theorist....
A team of researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, and CalTech universities has developed an experimental vaccine that may have the potential to protect against a wide range of coronaviruses. The vaccine uses nanoparticles to train the immune system to recognize multiple proteins from various coronaviruses, inducing a broader immune response that...
Several Spanish-language social media users known for spreading vaccine misinformation resurfaced a Pfizer document claiming that it shows all of the vaccine’s “adverse effects.” Users also falsely claim that Pfizer was forced to publish the document with the vaccine’s supposed 1,291 adverse effects and that the company...
An allegedly leaked email from 2021 claims to show evidence that U.S. Pfizer employees received different COVID-19 vaccines than the general public. The email, which notes that the vaccine stock available to the staff was “separate and distinct,” is recirculating in English and Spanish. Recommendation: Trending conversations about COVID-19...
A recent viral social media post included a video of a Colorado representative who said that the state is monitoring dairy farmers who were exposed to bird flu. The author of the post claims that Pfizer representatives are “working closely with political leaders to develop a cure,” and questioning, “what...
An Ohio doctor whose medical license was suspended last year after she promoted false claims about vaccine safety had her medical license reinstated last week. Some social media users are celebrating the reinstatement of the doctor’s license and stating that she was falsely accused of being a “conspiracy theorist....
Last week, a school board in Cypress, Texas, voted to remove a list of “controversial” topics from textbooks. Banned topics include vaccines, human development, climate and conservation, and diversity and culture. The decision gained widespread attention across social media platforms, with some social media users expressing support for the school...
Several Spanish-language social media users known for spreading vaccine misinformation resurfaced a Pfizer document claiming that it shows all of the vaccine’s “adverse effects.” Users also falsely claim that Pfizer was forced to publish the document with the vaccine’s supposed 1,291 adverse effects and that the company...
Last week, a news anchor said on a podcast that he has been taking ivermectin daily to treat long COVID, despite having spoken out against ivermectin in the past. A video clip from the podcast sparked widespread conversation on social media, with some social media users promoting ivermectin as a...
An allegedly leaked email from 2021 claims to show evidence that U.S. Pfizer employees received different COVID-19 vaccines than the general public. The email, which notes that the vaccine stock available to the staff was “separate and distinct,” is recirculating in English and Spanish. Recommendation: These types of false...
A team of researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, and CalTech universities has developed an experimental vaccine that may have the potential to protect against a wide range of coronaviruses. The vaccine uses nanoparticles to train the immune system to recognize multiple proteins from various coronaviruses, inducing a broader immune response that...
Last week in Austin, Texas, police launched an investigation after widespread overdoses due to opioids and other drugs resulted in multiple deaths and hospitalizations. Local news stations reported that after the overdose surge, police seized cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana laced with fentanyl. In response to the overdoses, community health care...
A recent New York Times article highlighted research suggesting that youth mental health education campaigns in schools are not helping young people with mental health issues and are instead encouraging incorrect “self-labeling” with mental illnesses. Experts quoted in the article expressed a need to improve access to youth mental health...
Last week, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed a repeal of the state’s 1864 law banning nearly all abortions. The repeal will take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session. After that, a 2022 statue banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy will go back into place....
A recent University of Florida clinical trial found that a newly-developed mRNA cancer vaccine was able to reprogram patients’ immune systems to attack glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. While many social media users celebrated these findings, others expressed distrust in mRNA technology and made false claims about mRNA COVID-19 vaccine...
Following a New York Times article about COVID-19 vaccine injuries, a well-known vaccine opponent in California falsely claimed on social media that COVID-19 vaccines have injured more than 10 million people. In response, some social media users shared concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety and personal stories about vaccine injuries, while...
At a town hall meeting with New York City’s mayor, an audience member reported the mayor said “it was un-American” to not allow migrants to work while thousands of New York City employees were terminated for not complying with vaccine mandates. She asked the mayor why he is still...
Last week, the Ohio Capitol Journal published an article about HB 319—the “Conscientious Right to Refuse Act”—which would prevent employers and institutions in Ohio from placing restrictions on those who refuse vaccines or other medical treatments due to personal or religious beliefs. Many social media users who shared...
A social media user falsely claimed that the vaccines the CDC recommends for babies “include toxic heavy metals and known carcinogens.” The user also compared it to the agency advising against feeding honey to babies before they turn 1. In response, another user responded that they gave their son raw...
A new study quantified the global impact of WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunization on the 50th anniversary of the program’s inception. The study found that the program’s vaccination efforts have prevented 154 million deaths worldwide, 146 million of which were in children under 5. Vaccine and public...
Following a New York Times article about COVID-19 vaccine injuries, a well-known vaccine opponent in California falsely claimed on social media that COVID-19 vaccines have injured more than 10 million people. In response, some social media users shared concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety and personal stories about vaccine injuries, while...
Vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca acknowledged in court documents from an ongoing lawsuit in the U.K. that the blood-clotting condition thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS) is a rare risk associated with its COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine opponents and some tabloid sites misleadingly framed this as a bombshell admission even though TTS has been known...
At a town hall meeting with New York City’s mayor, an audience member reported the mayor said “it was un-American” to not allow migrants to work while thousands of New York City employees were terminated for not complying with vaccine mandates. She asked the mayor why he is still...
Last week, the Ohio Capitol Journal published an article about HB 319—the “Conscientious Right to Refuse Act”—which would prevent employers and institutions in Ohio from placing restrictions on those who refuse vaccines or other medical treatments due to personal or religious beliefs. Many social media users who shared...
A recent University of Florida clinical trial found that a newly-developed mRNA cancer vaccine was able to reprogram patients’ immune systems to attack glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. While many social media users celebrated these findings, others expressed distrust in mRNA technology and made false claims about mRNA COVID-19 vaccine...
A social media user falsely claimed that the vaccines the CDC recommends for babies “include toxic heavy metals and known carcinogens.” The user also compared it to the agency advising against feeding honey to babies before they turn 1. In response, another user responded that they gave their son raw...
A new study quantified the global impact of WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunization on the 50th anniversary of the program’s inception. The study found that the program’s vaccination efforts have prevented 154 million deaths worldwide, 146 million of which were in children under 5. Vaccine and public...
Vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca acknowledged in court documents from an ongoing lawsuit in the U.K. that the blood-clotting condition thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS) is a rare risk associated with its COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine opponents and some tabloid sites misleadingly framed this as a bombshell admission even though TTS has been known...
Last week, a National Football League player died by suicide at 28 years old. His death sparked conversation on social media about men’s mental health. Some comments on posts about the player’s death said men need more mental health support. Others falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines cause mental illness...
Last week, Tennessee's governor signed into law the Baby Olivia Act, which will require Tennessee schools to show students a video about fetal development that does not align with the U.S. medical standard. The social media response to the new law is mixed, with some social media...
Last week, a Rolling Stone article celebrated country music artists who are singing and speaking about the opioid crisis and their own experiences with substance use disorder. Country music artist Jamie Wyatt, who was interviewed for the article and spoke in favor of harm reduction, shared the article on Instagram...
A local South Carolina news station reported that multiple cases of whooping cough have been identified at multiple schools. Comments on the article promote false claims that whooping cough vaccines are ineffective and cause death. Recommendation: These types of comments may discourage South Carolina patients from vaccinating their children against...
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...
Multiple social media posts in English and Spanish are circulating misleading claims that people who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine are being denied organ transplants and other forms of medical treatment due to their vaccination status. Recommendation: One of the posts claims that a child with a sinus infection...
Last week, a viral social media post shared a video clip from a Minnesota news segment about people who claim to have experienced severe adverse reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including neurological symptoms. Social media users who commented on the post celebrated mainstream-media coverage of alleged vaccine injuries. Recommendation: These...
A new study flagged two potential safety concerns associated with pediatric monovalent COVID-19 vaccines: heart inflammation myocarditis after Pfizer vaccination in adolescents aged 12 to 17, and seizure after Pfizer vaccination in children aged 2 to 4 and after Moderna vaccination in children aged 2 to 5. Vaccine opponents have...
A Spanish-language social media user reposted a video from a well-known anti-vaccine doctor and spread false claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety. The user wrote that COVID-19 vaccines are a “poisonous cocktail” and that they were to blame for her sister’s and sister-in-law’s fatal heart attacks as well as...
Post in English and Spanish recognized National Infant Immunization Week and World Immunization Week. Health departments, government entities, community organizations, media outlets, NGOs, and individuals emphasized the real-world impact of vaccines, promoted immunization guidelines, and highlighted local, national, and global vaccination efforts. Recommendation: While conversations about World Immunization Day and...
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...
Last week, a viral social media post shared a video clip from a Minnesota news segment about people who claim to have experienced severe adverse reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including neurological symptoms. Social media users who commented on the post celebrated mainstream-media coverage of alleged vaccine injuries. Recommendation: Trending...
A local South Carolina news station reported that multiple cases of whooping cough have been identified at multiple schools. Comments on the article promote false claims that whooping cough vaccines are ineffective and cause death. Recommendation: These types of comments may discourage people in South Carolina from vaccinating their children...
A new study flagged two potential safety concerns associated with pediatric monovalent COVID-19 vaccines: heart inflammation myocarditis after Pfizer vaccination in adolescents aged 12 to 17, and seizure after Pfizer vaccination in children aged 2 to 4 and after Moderna vaccination in children aged 2 to 5. Vaccine opponents have...
A Spanish-language social media user reposted a video from a well-known anti-vaccine doctor and spread false claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety. The user wrote that COVID-19 vaccines are a “poisonous cocktail” and that they were to blame for her sister’s and sister-in-law’s fatal heart attacks as well as...
Multiple social media posts in English and Spanish are circulating misleading claims that people who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine are being denied organ transplants and other forms of medical treatment due to their vaccination status. Recommendation: These types of posts may promote distrust in public health vaccine guidance....
Post in English and Spanish recognized National Infant Immunization Week and World Immunization Week. Health departments, government entities, community organizations, media outlets, NGOs, and individuals emphasized the real-world impact of vaccines, promoted immunization guidelines, and highlighted local, national, and global vaccination efforts. Recommendation: Trending conversations about vaccines provide an opportunity...
This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced emergency legislation that will permit physicians from Arizona to provide reproductive health care—including abortion care—in California. This announcement came after Arizona's Supreme Court voted to uphold a law from 1864 that bans all abortions, with no exceptions for rape...
Last week, a BBC article about the ADHD medication shortage began circulating on multiple social media platforms. In response to the article, some social media users shared unproven alternatives to ADHD medication for those who are struggling to access their prescriptions, such as psilocybin and CBD gummies, while others falsely...
One of several vaccine-related bills recently introduced in Louisiana is generating conversation online. Bill HB288 would require all autopsies of sudden infant deaths in children under 1 year to include vaccine records. Some social media users and anti-vaccine groups are expressing support for the bill and suggesting that vaccines are...
An anti-vaccine newsletter republished part of an article from a San Jose, California, newspaper about an analysis by its publisher alleging that while California’s white populations initially saw fewer COVID-19-related deaths due to economic advantages, the numbers have changed. According to the analysis, white people accounted for 60 percent...
A recent survey of U.S. college students published in JAMA Pediatrics found that while more than half of the students surveyed could correctly identify the signs of an opioid overdose and expressed a willingness to intervene, just one in seven students knew how to administer naloxone. While there is...
A recent article in The Iowa Standard reported on a growing movement among Iowa politicians and health care professionals to remove mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from the market, citing safety concerns. Social media reactions are mixed, with some users claiming that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and others suggesting that vaccination...
Social media users in English and Spanish are discussing a major independent review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The nonprofit evaluated real-world data, and drew several conclusions, including that although Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines can cause myocarditis in rare cases, they do not...
Several viral social media posts are sharing statements from a World Health Organization official who testified that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and ineffective at preventing COVID-19-related deaths and that Finland’s former COVID-19 vaccine passport requirements were unethical and unnecessary because COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent COVID-19 transmission. The testimony...
New Hampshire’s House passed a bill that would eliminate the requirement for proof of polio and measles vaccines for children in daycare. If the bill passes the state Senate, New Hampshire would become the only U.S. state with this kind of law, although other states allow for religious...
An anti-vaccine newsletter republished part of an article from a San Jose, California, newspaper about an analysis by its publisher alleging that while California’s white populations initially saw fewer COVID-19-related deaths due to economic advantages, the numbers have changed. According to the analysis, white people accounted for 60 percent...
A Spanish pediatrician made a video series spreading false claims about mRNA and RSV vaccines and antibody treatments. In the video, the doctor falsely claims that antibodies and vaccines against RSV are not safe and recommends good nutrition and vitamin C to prevent bronchiolitis (which is often caused by RSV)...
One of several vaccine-related bills recently introduced in Louisiana is generating conversation online. Bill HB288 would require all autopsies of sudden infant deaths in children under 1 year to include vaccine records. Some social media users and anti-vaccine groups are expressing support for the bill and suggesting that vaccines are...
New Hampshire’s House passed a bill that would eliminate the requirement for proof of polio and measles vaccines for children in daycare. If the bill passes, New Hampshire would become the only U.S. state with this kind of law, although other states allow for religious exemptions to vaccine...
A recent article in The Iowa Standard reported on a growing movement among Iowa politicians and health care professionals to remove mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from the market, citing safety concerns. Social media reactions are mixed, with some users claiming that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and others suggesting that vaccination...
Social media users in English and Spanish are discussing a major independent review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The nonprofit evaluated real-world data, and drew several conclusions, including that although Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines can cause myocarditis in rare cases, they do not...
Several viral social media posts are sharing statements from a World Health Organization official who testified that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and ineffective at preventing COVID-19-related deaths and that Finland’s former COVID-19 vaccine passport requirements were unethical and unnecessary because COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent COVID-19 transmission. The testimony...
A Spanish pediatrician made a video series spreading false claims about mRNA and RSV vaccines and antibody treatments. In the video, the doctor falsely claims that antibodies and vaccines against RSV are not safe and recommends good nutrition and vitamin C to prevent bronchiolitis (which is often caused by RSV)...
Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom shared a video which sparked viral conversations about third trimester abortions. Newsom’s social media post included a video in which a news anchor states that he has “never heard of anyone” getting an abortion at 9 months pregnant. In response to Newsom’s...
In March, a Kentucky child died after having a suspected allergic reaction to strawberries. The Hopkins County Health Department advised residents to dispose of strawberries purchased at a local school fundraiser out of an abundance of caution, but FDA testing later determined that the strawberries were safe. Last week, the...
A recent article outlined state and local government efforts to address the surge in mental illness among young people and investigated potential driving forces behind the crisis. In response to the article, political commentator Charlie Kirk shared a viral social media post claiming that COVID-19 lockdowns, political indoctrination in schools,...
Georgia health officials confirmed a third measles case in the state. The person who contracted measles was unvaccinated and traveled internationally with a group of students. In response to this event, social media users are sharing a variety of false claims. Some are blaming immigrants for the recent rise in...
Last week, several viral social media posts claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci created the virus that causes COVID-19 in his Montana lab and released the virus in order to sway election results. Recommendation: Responding directly to conspiracy theories may detract from priority talking points. Ensuring that informational materials about COVID-19...
A former cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs died from sepsis after giving birth to a stillborn baby. Social media users are making the unsubstantiated claim that her death was caused by COVID-19 vaccination. Some are also using the former cheerleader’s death to support the false claims that miscarriage...
A new CDC study investigates the risk of sudden cardiac deaths in teens and young adults who received COVID-19 vaccines. The study found no link between the vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths. Vaccine opponents responded to scientific data that contradicts the false claims they have circulated for the last two...
Last week, a group called Innovative Parenting New Jersey hosted a livestream event on social media to discuss proposed health code changes at New Jersey schools. A post advertising the event claimed that “medical consent is being attacked.” Some commenters on the post claimed that proposed health codes are solely...
Several prominent vaccine opponents posted false claims about bird flu online, in both English and Spanish. Some of the false claims include that there’s been a possible “artificial introduction of H5N1 bird flu into farming operations and food.” Other claims resurfaced conspiracy theories about a “plandemic,” casting suspicion on...
Last week, several viral social media posts claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci created the virus that causes COVID-19 in his Montana lab and released the virus in order to sway election results. Recommendation: It’s unlikely for this specific conspiracy theory to come up in patient conversations, but patient messaging...
Vaccine opponents, posting in both English and Spanish, are sharing images of a Japan protest against the World Health Organization’s pandemic treaty, resurfacing conspiracy theories about the pandemic and falsely claiming that the treaty means that countries will lose sovereignty and freedom. Recommendation: False claims about the World Health...
Last week, a group called Innovative Parenting New Jersey hosted a livestream event on social media to discuss proposed health code changes at New Jersey schools. A post advertising the event claimed that “medical consent is being attacked.” Some commenters on the post claimed that proposed health codes are solely...
A former cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs died from sepsis after giving birth to a stillborn baby. Social media users are making the unsubstantiated claim that her death was caused by COVID-19 vaccination. Some are also using the former cheerleader’s death to support the false claims that miscarriage...
Georgia health officials confirmed a third measles case in the state. The person who contracted measles was unvaccinated and traveled internationally with a group of students. In response to this event, social media users are sharing a variety of false claims. Some are blaming immigrants for the recent rise in...
A new CDC study investigates the risk of sudden cardiac deaths in teens and young adults who received COVID-19 vaccines. The study found no link between the vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths. Vaccine opponents responded to scientific data that contradicts the false claims they have circulated for the last two...
Vaccine opponents, posting in both English and Spanish, are sharing images of a Japan protest against the World Health Organization’s pandemic treaty, resurfacing conspiracy theories about the pandemic and falsely claiming that the treaty means that countries will lose sovereignty and freedom. Recommendation: False claims about the World Health...
Several prominent vaccine opponents posted false claims about bird flu online, in both English and Spanish. Some of the false claims include that there’s been a possible “artificial introduction of H5N1 bird flu into farming operations and food.” Other claims resurfaced conspiracy theories about a “plandemic,” casting suspicion on...
This week Arizona's Supreme Court voted to uphold a law from 1864 that bans all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest, unless the pregnant person’s life is threatened. The ruling makes abortion a felony punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone who...
A new Florida law will make it a felony to expose first responders to fentanyl or other chemically similar drugs when the exposure results in physical harm. Experts from American College of Medical Toxicology and American Academy of Clinical Toxicology said this law will create an “unnecessary concern,” as the...
This week two viral social media posts claimed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a widely used type of antidepressant, lead to violent behavior. One post included a video of Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. attributing mass shootings to SSRI prescriptions and video games. Another suggested that taking SSRIs contributed to...
West Virginia’s governor vetoed a bill that would have eliminated vaccine requirements in public virtual schools and allowed private and parochial schools to set their own standards. Some social media users are criticizing the governor for disregarding those affected by alleged vaccine injuries and claiming that the government should...
A California-based nonprofit committed to “protecting medical freedom” is raising money to file a lawsuit challenging barriers to medical vaccine exemptions in the state. The group shared their fundraising goal on social media, where some commenters are voicing support for the lawsuit. Recommendation: While these types of posts primarily circulate...
Spanish-language social media posts are spreading the false claim that Japan banned mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. One user known for spreading false information about vaccines in Spanish also falsely claimed that the supposed ban was due to “rising sudden deaths in the country” and that the government encouraged “other nations to...
After a rare human case of H5N1 avian flu, or “bird flu,” was discovered in Texas, the New York Post published an article claiming that bird flu is “100 times worse” than COVID-19. In response to the article, some social media users are falsely claiming that this human case of...
Several recent social media posts are linking deaths in the Midwest to COVID-19 vaccines without evidence. One post claims that a woman died of “turbo cancer” caused by COVID-19 vaccines, and another equates university vaccine mandates with homicide. Recommendation: These types of posts promote false claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety...
A right-wing political commentator claims that governments encouraging vaccination after “the mRNA vaccine was shown not to stop transmission” was “the most evil thing ever done.” Recommendation: These types of posts attempt to undermine the public’s perception of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and may promote distrust in guidance...
In a recent viral video, a man claiming to be a rancher alleges that “live” mRNA vaccines are being tested on livestock, and 26 percent of those tested have had serious adverse reactions. The video claims that the meat from the animals contains “live vaccines.” A conspiracy theorist sharing the...
West Virginia’s governor vetoed a bill that would have eliminated vaccine requirements in public virtual schools and allowed private and parochial schools to set their own standards. Some social media users are criticizing the governor for disregarding those affected by alleged vaccine injuries and claiming that the government should...
A California-based nonprofit committed to “protecting medical freedom” is raising money to file a lawsuit challenging barriers to medical vaccine exemptions in the state. The group shared their fundraising goal on social media, where some commenters are voicing support for the lawsuit. Recommendation: These types of posts promote distrust in...
Several recent social media posts are linking deaths in the Midwest to COVID-19 vaccines without evidence. One post claims that a woman died of “turbo cancer” caused by COVID-19 vaccines, and another equates university vaccine mandates with homicide. Recommendation: These types of posts promote false claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety...
Spanish-language social media posts are spreading the false claim that Japan banned mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. One user known for spreading false information about vaccines in Spanish also falsely claimed that the supposed ban was due to “rising sudden deaths in the country” and that the government encouraged “other nations to...
Post published an article claiming that bird flu is “100 times worse” than COVID-19. In response to the article, some social media users are falsely claiming that this human case of bird flu is a government hoax intended to sway election results, while others claim that this is the beginning...
A right-wing political commentator claims that governments encouraging vaccination after “the mRNA vaccine was shown not to stop transmission” was “the most evil thing ever done.” Recommendation: These types of posts attempt to undermine the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and may promote distrust in public health guidance. If directly debunking...
In a recent viral video, a man claiming to be a rancher alleges that “live” mRNA vaccines are being tested on livestock, and 26 percent of those tested have had serious adverse reactions. The video claims that the meat from the animals contains “live vaccines.” A conspiracy theorist sharing the...
Last week, a nonprofit in Walker County, Alabama, installed the state’s first Narcan vending machine, which offers free naloxone as a nasal spray or as an intramuscular injection. Organizers behind the project say Walker County, which has a population of fewer than 65,000 people, has one of the...
A new Florida law will ban children under the age of 14 from having social media accounts and will require children between the ages of 14 and 15 to have parental permission in order to have social media accounts. The law—which will take effect on January 1, 2025—is...
In the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments involving access to the abortion pill mifepristone, the anti-abortion group Live Action recirculated a video implying that abortion pills are unsafe and asking viewers to sign a petition to stop pharmacies from distributing abortion pills. The video was initially...
Social media post claims Oklahoma man died after doctors refused to treat his COVID-19 infection with ivermectinA doctor with a large social media following shared a post claiming that an Oklahoma man died after doctors refused to treat his COVID-19 infection with ivermectin and instead treated him with remdesivir. Recommendation:...
Tennessee’s Senate passed a law requiring that any food containing a vaccine be classified and labeled as a drug. Senators who support the bill said they did not know of any examples of vaccine-containing foods being sold but that the bill would ensure regulations are in place if vaccine-containing...
A popular social media post referenced a University of Washington preprint study, which found that people who received three doses of the original COVID-19 vaccine developed strong immunity against COVID-19. The study also found that people who received the most recently updated COVID-19 vaccine, which targets the Omicron subvariant XBB....
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shared a post about long COVID on the department’s social media page. Several comments on the post falsely claimed that long COVID is caused by COVID-19 vaccines, not by COVID-19 infection. Recommendation: These types of posts promote confusion about the cause...
Social media posts in both English and Spanish resurfaced misleading claims about a study linking the flu vaccine with potential stroke risk and casting doubt on the vaccine’s safety. One user inaccurately claimed that older adults who received the flu vaccine had a stroke 42 days after being vaccinated....
In a video with millions of views, a popular right-wing political commentator calls for doctors to apologize for “wrongly” recommending COVID-19 vaccines. The clip has been widely circulated in multiple languages. Recommendation: The video attempts to undermine trust not only in COVID-19 vaccines but also in doctors, who are a...
Posts in both English and Spanish are falsely claiming that blood donations from people vaccinated against COVID-19 are not safe, based on a preprint literature review from Japan. The study the users cite recommends suspending mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations to avoid “spike protein contamination.” Recommendation: These types of posts may promote...
Tennessee’s Senate passed a law requiring that any food containing a vaccine be classified and labeled as a drug. Senators who support the bill said they did not know of any examples of vaccine-containing foods being sold but that the bill would ensure regulations are in place if vaccine-containing...
A popular social media post referenced a University of Washington preprint study, which found that people who received three doses of the original COVID-19 vaccine developed strong immunity against COVID-19. The study also found that people who received the most recently updated COVID-19 vaccine, which targets the Omicron subvariant XBB....
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shared a post about long COVID on the department’s social media page. Several comments on the post falsely claimed that long COVID is caused by COVID-19 vaccines, not by COVID-19 infection. Recommendation: These types of posts promote confusion about the cause...
A doctor with a large social media following shared a post claiming that an Oklahoma man died after doctors refused to treat his COVID-19 infection with ivermectin and instead treated him with remdesivir. Recommendation: These types of posts may promote distrust in COVID-19 treatment options recommended by doctors and may...
Social media posts in both English and Spanish resurfaced misleading claims about a study linking the flu vaccine with potential stroke risk and casting doubt on the vaccine’s safety. One user inaccurately claimed that older adults who received the flu vaccine had a stroke 42 days after being vaccinated....
In a video with millions of views, a popular right-wing political commentator calls for doctors to apologize for “wrongly” recommending COVID-19 vaccines. The clip has been widely circulated in multiple languages. Recommendation: The video attempts to undermine trust not only in COVID-19 vaccines but also in doctors, who are a...
Posts in both English and Spanish are falsely claiming that blood donations from people vaccinated against COVID-19 are not safe, based on a preprint literature review from Japan. The study the users cite recommends suspending mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations to avoid “spike protein contamination.” Recommendation: These types of posts falsely equate...
A recent article highlights the prevalence of misleading information about birth control online. The article states that social media influencers are raising concerns about alleged side effects of hormonal birth control and promoting “natural,” less effective birth control methods. The influencers’ target audience is made up of girls and women...
A popular social media post expressed frustration with the national suicide prevention hotline. After calling the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988), the social media user wrote, “no longer actively suicidal but am totally baffled at the lack of support offered.” In response to the post, other social media users shared...
Last week, U.S. senators Tim Kaine and Ted Cruz introduced the STOP TRANQ Act, a bill that would require reporting on xylazine, or “tranq,” in the State Department’s annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. In a social media post about the bill, Senator Cruz wrote, “What is tranq?...
A social media post claimed that the Avalanche, a Colorado-based National Hockey League team, is “killing and injuring” its players and staff by requiring COVID-19 vaccines. The post claimed that an Avalanche player who recently died by suicide was experiencing exacerbated mental illness symptoms due to COVID-19 vaccination. Recommendation: These...
A provision in the Texas State Budget prohibits promoting or advertising COVID-19 vaccines in 2024 and 2025, but still allows entities from the state health department to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. A recent news article about the provision has sparked discussion online, with most posts and comments advocating against it. Recommendation:...
Multiple social media posts cited a recent Ohio State University study to falsely claim that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. The study, which was published in Frontiers in Immunology in February, followed 112 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 infections and concluded with caution that...
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...
A social media post falsely claimed that pharmaceutical companies in Massachusetts “manufactured” the COVID-19 pandemic for profit. The post attempted to back this false claim by stating that there are many pharmaceutical companies, including the headquarters of Moderna and Pfizer, in Massachusetts, and that the CDC director is from Massachusetts....
Social media posts in English and Spanish falsely blame COVID-19 vaccines for athletes’ recent health incidents. Specifically, the posts falsely claim that a tennis player’s collapse during the Miami Open and an Egyptian soccer player’s cardiac arrest were due to the COVID-19 vaccines. Recommendation: These types of posts...
The FDA recently settled a lawsuit with a group of doctors who sued the agency claiming it was interfering with their ability to practice medicine. The plaintiffs are known for spreading false information about vaccines. Following the lawsuit, social media posts in English and Spanish resurfaced myths about ivermectin, falsely...
A social media post claimed that the Avalanche, a Colorado-based National Hockey League team, is “killing and injuring” its players and staff by requiring COVID-19 vaccines. The post claimed that an Avalanche player who recently died by suicide was experiencing exacerbated mental illness symptoms due to COVID-19 vaccination. Recommendation: These...
Multiple social media posts cited a recent Ohio State University study to falsely claim that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. The study, which was published in Frontiers in Immunology in February, followed 112 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 infections and concluded with caution that...
A provision in the Texas State Budget prohibits promoting or advertising COVID-19 vaccines in 2024 and 2025, but still allows entities from the state health department to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. A recent news article about the provision has sparked discussion online, with most posts and comments advocating against it. Recommendation:...
A social media post falsely claimed that pharmaceutical companies in Massachusetts “manufactured” the COVID-19 pandemic for profit. The post attempted to back this false claim by stating that there are many pharmaceutical companies, including the headquarters of Moderna and Pfizer, in Massachusetts, and that the CDC director is from Massachusetts....
Social media posts in English and Spanish falsely blame COVID-19 vaccines for athletes’ recent health incidents. Specifically, the posts falsely claim that a tennis player’s collapse during the Miami Open and an Egyptian soccer player’s cardiac arrest were due to the COVID-19 vaccines. Recommendation: Vaccine opponents have a...
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...
The FDA recently settled a lawsuit with a group of doctors who sued the agency claiming it was interfering with their ability to practice medicine. The plaintiffs are known for spreading false information about vaccines. Ultimately, the court ruled that the FDA’s campaign slogan, “You are not a horse!...
A recently released study from Drexel University analyzed survey data from 40,000 high school students and found that teenagers who live through a hurricane, flood, tornado, or other climate disaster could be up to 20 percent more likely to experience mental distress. Although the link between mental health and...
A cardiologist who opposes vaccines and has a large social media platform spoke to the Arizona Senate Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee. In his speech, he falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have caused mass deaths. He also falsely claimed that ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Recommendation:...
Two vaccine exemption bills in Southern states are sparking conversation online. In West Virginia, HB 5105—which was passed by the House and Senate—would eliminate vaccine requirements in public virtual schools. In Oklahoma, HB 3249—which was passed by the House—would expand vaccine exemptions for daycare students. Vaccine...
Reports that Pfizer exceeded methylene chloride discharge limits into a Michigan drain prompted city officials to issue a no-contact advisory for the Kalamazoo River. In response to these reports, some social media users shared unsubstantiated claims that the chemical spill is related to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines. These users are...
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shared a social media post encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against measles and other diseases, as routine vaccines are required for children who attend school and daycare. In response to the post, some social media users commented that infants...
Posts circulating in English and Spanish claim that a “new study” declared Amish children are the “world’s healthiest children” because they are unvaccinated. The post claims that the study found Amish communities have a “90 times lower” COVID-19 death rate than “fully-vaxxed and boostered, mask-wearing and locked-downed” Americans. Recommendation:...
A controversial physician whose board certification was revoked for promoting “false or inaccurate medical misinformation” claimed in a recent interview to have treated hundreds of patients with COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The doctor insists without evidence that 70 percent of the people he treats have so-called “long vax, not long COVID....
Several social media posts in English and Spanish shared an article from a well-known anti-vaccine website saying that a study conducted in Colombia links the HPV vaccine to rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. One of the posts quotes an anti-vaccine activist saying that the study findings deserve “more comprehensive...
Earlier this month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to expand SCOUT, or subway co-response outreach teams, which involuntarily hospitalize unhoused people on New York subways who show signs of mental illness. Hochul’s announcement led to debate on one social media platform about whether or not these measures...
Last week, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced that “not one city dollar” will be used to fund the distribution of sterile syringes to people who use drugs. Parker’s administration still plans to use money from opioid settlement funds to support other harm reduction services, such as the distribution of...
In a recent news interview, former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that Roe v. Wade allowed for abortions “after birth.” Both before and after Roe v. Wade was overturned, no state allowed abortions after birth. A recently trending social media post from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also made false claims...
A cardiologist who opposes vaccines and has a large social media platform spoke to the Arizona Senate Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee. In his speech, he falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have caused mass deaths. He also falsely claimed that ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Recommendation:...
Reports that Pfizer exceeded methylene chloride discharge limits into a Michigan drain prompted city officials to issue a no-contact advisory for the Kalamazoo River. In response to these reports, some social media users shared unsubstantiated claims that the chemical spill is related to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines. These users are...
Two vaccine exemption bills in Southern states are sparking conversation online. In West Virginia, HB 5105—which was passed by the House and Senate—would eliminate vaccine requirements in public virtual schools. In Oklahoma, HB 3249—which was passed by the House—would expand vaccine exemptions for daycare students. Vaccine...
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shared a social media post encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against measles and other diseases, as routine vaccines are required for children who attend school and daycare. In response to the post, some social media users commented that infants...
Posts circulating in English and Spanish claim that a “new study” declared Amish children are the “world’s healthiest children” because they are unvaccinated. The post claims that the study found Amish communities have a “90 times lower” COVID-19 death rate than “fully-vaxxed and boostered, mask-wearing and locked-downed” Americans. Recommendation:...
Social media posts cast doubt on HPV vaccine safety Several social media posts in English and Spanish shared an article from a well-known anti-vaccine website saying that a study conducted in Colombia links the HPV vaccine to rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. One of the posts quotes an anti-vaccine...
A controversial physician whose board certification was revoked for promoting “false or inaccurate medical misinformation” claimed in a recent interview to have treated hundreds of patients with COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The doctor insists without evidence that 70 percent of the people he treats have so-called “long vax, not long COVID....
Conversations about emergency contraception spiked after a recent concert headlined by pop star Olivia Rodrigo in St. Louis. Social media users posted that they had received emergency contraceptive pills and condoms at the concert as part of the singer’s Fund 4 Good initiative, which aims to ensure “an equitable...
Pop star and actress Selena Gomez and New York Jets defensive lineman Solomon Thomas led a panel discussing mental health at the South by Southwest conference. Gomez has been public about her bipolar disorder diagnosis and mental health crisis, while Solomon discussed anxiety and grief after his sister died by...
The Biden administration recently launched an initiative called the Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose, described as a nationwide call to increase training on and access to opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone. This follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of over-the-counter Narcan spray and the...
Washington passed a bill that defines a vaccine as any FDA-approved immunization recommended by the CDC. Some social media users are expressing concerns that this definition is too broad. Others are questioning whether or not COVID-19 vaccines should be considered vaccines at all, as they do not provide full immunity....
The Houston Health Department reported seven cases of meningitis between November 2023 and February 2024. In response to the rise in meningitis cases, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued an advisory encouraging Texans to stay up to date on vaccinations. Some comments on articles about the meningitis outbreak...
Michigan reported its first pediatric death from the flu of the 2023-2024 flu season. Some social media users are falsely attributing the child’s death to the flu vaccine. Others are promoting the false narrative that flu vaccines are ineffective and dangerous. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These types of posts...
Several social media users in English and Spanish posted videos of a press conference in South Korea in which the speakers made false claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety. According to the videos’ subtitles, the people in the press conference claim that “no one has suffered more than the families of...
Eight cases of mumps have been reported in New Jersey. Health officials are urging New Jersey residents to look out for symptoms and to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine if they are unvaccinated. In response to an article about the outbreak, some social media users are blaming immigrants for the...
A member of Congress proposed the Let Injured Americans Be Legally Empowered (Liable) Act, which would allow Americans to retroactively sue COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers for alleged vaccine injuries. News about the proposed bill has been widely circulated and celebrated among vaccine skeptics. Risk level: High Recommendation: While conversations about this...
A U.S. congressperson continues to circulate speculation about mRNA vaccines in food, citing a frequently misrepresented study exploring the use of edible plants to produce mRNA vaccines more efficiently. The congressperson advocates for an end to funding for “transgenic edible plant vaccines.” Several online posts are also spreading false...
In mid-February, the Supreme Court of Alabama declared that embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be considered children. Within a week of the ruling, several fertility clinics in Alabama paused their IVF treatments due to concern over the potential liability of physicians and laboratory staff when handling embryos....
Recently, the Providence City Council approved Rhode Island’s first “safe injection site” in February 2024, sparking conversation about opioids, overdoses, and harm reduction online. Rhode Island became the first state in the U.S. to authorize overdose prevention centers more than two years ago, and the newly approved Providence...
A newsletter by a prominent vaccine opponent referenced a small Ohio State University study, which found that vaccinated patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19-related respiratory failure were more likely to die than unvaccinated patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19-related respiratory failure. The writer falsely concludes that COVID-19 vaccines do not...
West Virginia’s legislature advanced a bill that would allow students to forego otherwise mandatory school vaccinations due to their religious beliefs. Some social media posts about the bill express concern about potential disease outbreaks, while others share stories of alleged “vaccine injuries” and falsely claim that vaccines are unsafe...
A social media post referenced a California university that recently stopped requiring and instead only recommends that students receive COVID-19 vaccines. In response, a popular post criticized California universities that still mandate COVID-19 vaccines for students. Risk level: Low Recommendation: Social media posts criticizing California university vaccine mandates may discourage...
A Spanish-language social media user shared an article falsely claiming that COVID-19 vaccines weaken the immune system. In the post, the user falsely claims, “The higher the [vaccine] dose, the greater the immunosuppression.” The article cites a recently published journal article about the general prevalence of immunosuppression in the U....
A popular social media post shared a video clip from a news program warning of a virus in New York that is transmitted through mosquito bites. The news anchor in the clip mentions that there are no vaccines to protect against this virus, yet the post’s author falsely implies...
The CDC’s updated guidance for respiratory viruses faces criticism from vaccine skeptics and those who feel the agency isn’t doing enough to protect the public from COVID-19. The guidelines advise people to take similar precautions for COVID-19, the flu, and RSV, including staying up to date on vaccination,...
The CDC recommended an additional dose of the updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older. Some took issue with the recommendation, claiming that government officials were targeting seniors before the election. A congressperson accused the CDC’s immunizations advisory committee of corruption and financial ties to the pharmaceutical...
The Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee voted to pass two bills regarding school immunization requirements and exemptions. One bill aims to extend school vaccine exemptions to 18-year-old students. The second bill would require school districts to inform parents about any available vaccine exemptions. Social media users are expressing concerns...
Social media posts are circulating false claims that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are in the U.S. food supply. These claims re-emerged after a Tennessee representative introduced a bill that would require food products containing mRNA vaccines to be classified as drugs. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: While conversations about these false...
Recent data from the Iowa Department of Health shows that less than 50 percent of 13- to 15-year-olds in the state were fully vaccinated against HPV in 2023. Some regions in Iowa exhibit HPV immunization rates below 30 percent. In response to articles and social media posts about this data,...
Several social media posts are expressing concerns that a New York bill will allow minors to be vaccinated without parental consent. Parents are claiming that this bill will revoke their right to make decisions about their children’s health care. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: While conversations about this bill are...
Several viral posts falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccine recipients are ineligible to donate blood through the Red Cross. Days later, an audio clip of an alleged Red Cross official saying that blood is not separated by vaccination status has caused outrage. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These types of posts may...
Measles cases in Florida and 14 other states prompted a spike in conversation across platforms about the disease and the measles vaccine. These conversations include a range of narratives, including accurate information, discussion about public health guidelines during a measles outbreak, and false claims. Much of the discourse about the...
A popular conservative political commentator hosted an interview with a tech entrepreneur-turned-vaccine conspiracist who promoted false claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. One of the debunked claims is that COVID-19 vaccines caused 17 million deaths and that they’re some of the most dangerous vaccines of all time. Several...
Social media posts are using a new COVID-19 vaccine safety study with data from eight countries to falsely claim that the vaccines are not safe. The study confirmed a slightly increased risk of adverse reactions that had been previously reported, like myocarditis, pericarditis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Risk level: Medium Recommendation:...
As of February 23, seven cases of measles have been confirmed in Florida children under the age of 14. In response, some social media posts about the outbreak are spreading false claims about measles and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Some posts claim that the current outbreak of measles in Florida...
A Wyoming representative introduced a bill that would require blood donors to disclose whether or not they have received any mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. A popular social media post stated this bill would allow blood donation recipients to request “non-contaminated” blood. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: Social media posts referencing blood that...
A doctor with a large social media platform shared a post about a New Hampshire bill that would require death certificates to include vaccination status. The doctor stated that this bill “makes sense” due to the number of unexpected deaths in New Hampshire, implying that COVID-19 vaccines are to blame....
A Minnesota senator introduced bill SF610, which would allow daycare providers to deny enrollment to children who are not up to date on state-required vaccinations. Organizations voicing support for the bill include the Minnesota Child Care Association, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Freedom Foundation of Minnesota,...
A chart showing deaths reported to VAERS by vaccine type is circulating in English and Spanish on social media. Vaccine opponents claim that the chart proves COVID-19 vaccines have caused more deaths than all other vaccines combined. Risk level: High Recommendation: VAERS data is frequently misused and misinterpreted to discourage...
Several Spanish-language social media accounts are falsely claiming that measles never existed and insinuating that the vaccine against the virus is unwarranted. Additionally, two of the posters attached a video of a man falsely claiming that a German court ruled that the virus never existed. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These...
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a multi-part hearing on “Assessing America’s Vaccine Safety Systems.” The subcommittee includes several physicians along with a congressperson known for promoting COVID-19 conspiracy theories. Online vaccine opponents are misrepresenting federal health officials’ testimony about VAERS reports to falsely claim that COVID-19...
A proposed Idaho bill seeks to change the state’s vaccine registry from opt-out to opt-in. The change would require parents to choose to include their child’s vaccination status in the statewide database. Proponents of the bill say it will protect privacy and ensure informed consent, while opponents argue...
A Texas state senator sent a letter to the Texas Medical Board, calling for a ban on COVID-19 vaccines and repeating the false claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer and excess deaths. Meanwhile, the Texas attorney general’s debunked claims that COVID-19 vaccines are ineffective have resurfaced. Risk level: High...
Following a post from Minnesota’s governor, saying that the state’s settlement with Eli Lilly resulted in a cap on the monthly out-of-pocket cost of insulin, one response stated that Walz didn’t hold “Big Pharma accountable” and made it “more wealthy” during COVID-19. Risk level: Low Recommendation: These...
A popular anti-vaccine website published an article about a New Jersey Department of Health campaign encouraging students to create posters and videos on the importance of vaccination for the chance to win a cash prize of up to $175. People are quoted in the anti-vaccine article calling the campaign a...
Several popular posts in English and Spanish are falsely blaming COVID-19 vaccines for an increase in blood clots. One English post claims that 70 percent of embalmers in a survey said they’re finding abnormal clots that they had never seen before COVID-19 vaccines. And a Spanish post claims that...
Anti-vaccine rhetoric circulated online during the Super Bowl as vaccine opponents expressed outrage over a Pfizer ad about future cancer treatments that aired during the game. Some posts criticized one of the star players for his appearance in a previous Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine ad, while others accused the pharmaceutical giant...
In late January, several vaccine opponents published a review article questioning the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The paper calls for a ban on mRNA vaccines and promotes the baseless claim that COVID-19 vaccines caused “nearly 14 times more deaths” than lives saved. Many posts emphasize that the paper is...
A New York State Supreme Court justice dismissed felony charges against two people who purchased fake COVID-19 vaccine cards to avoid New York City’s vaccine mandate. The felony charges were brought by Manhattan’s district attorney, who is now facing criticism on social media. Some posts claim that the...
This week, a California political commentator and former presidential candidate shared an article on social media falsely claiming that COVID-19 vaccines have caused more deaths than the virus. The article cites a study that was peer-reviewed by two known vaccine opponents. Some social media users who commented on the post...
Following a reported case of measles in Ohio, some social media users claimed the myth that reports of measles cases are a scare tactic meant to skew election results later this year. Others are baselessly accusing “illegal immigrants” of bringing measles into Ohio. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These types of...
Last week, a Florida grand jury released its first interim report on COVID-19 vaccines, one year after Florida’s governor ordered an investigation. In the report, the grand jury raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and the effectiveness of other COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as mask...
Popular posts in English and Spanish are circulating false claims about HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness. The posts allege that HPV vaccines don’t prevent cancer and cause autoimmune diseases, miscarriages, birth defects, and young adult deaths. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: Vaccine opponents have been circulating myths about HPV vaccines...
A U.S. senator circulated conspiracy theories about the World Health Organization’s pandemic treaty, including claiming that the WHO chief and U.S. health officials “sabotaged” the pandemic response and promoted dangerous vaccines. Posts in English and Spanish falsely claim the treaty would give the WHO power over individual...
The CDC’s updated recommended immunization schedule is being criticized for the inclusion of RSV and COVID-19 vaccines for children and older and pregnant adults. An anti-vaccine website published an article calling for COVID-19 vaccines to be removed from all immunization schedules, while several popular posts argue that people, particularly...
A former cardiologist who was fired and stripped of his board certification for promoting vaccine disinformation has co-authored two recent papers claiming that COVID-19 vaccines contribute to a large number of myocarditis deaths. One of the papers was published and withdrawn in 2021, relying entirely on VAERS data and highlighting...
A doctor with a large social media platform shared a post criticizing California’s former COVID-19 isolation guidelines. While previous guidelines required five days of isolation after a positive COVID-19 test, regardless of symptoms, the state’s new guidelines do not require any isolation period for people with asymptomatic COVID-19...
An Iowa senator introduced a bill that would require parental consent for minors to receive the HPV vaccine. The senator falsely claimed that the HPV vaccine is unsafe. He also stated that minors cannot be trusted to make decisions about vaccine safety. Health care providers and health organizations voiced concerns...
Last week, a local news station reported that Tennessee has the highest flu activity in the U.S. and low flu vaccination rates. A Tennessee doctor told the news station that vaccine hesitancy, “vaccine fatigue,” and the desire to “put COVID behind them” have contributed to the state’s low...
A popular Spanish-language social media user claims that a court in Almería, Spain, is launching an investigation into the possible presence of a “toxic compound” in COVID-19 vaccines. The user posted a screenshot from a website that falsely claims that a professor from the University of Almería found graphene oxide...
At a Massachusetts legislature hearing, vaccine opponents falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer, have led to over half a billion so-called “vaccine injuries” worldwide, and have caused 17 million deaths. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: Social media posts and articles about this hearing may discourage patients in Massachusetts from getting...
A video clip of a medical advisor comparing SARS-CoV-2 and long COVID to HIV and AIDS led some to claim that long COVID is actually a vaccine injury called vaccine AIDS, or “VAIDS.” A former cardiologist resurfaced the debunked myth that COVID-19 vaccines cause positive HIV tests and that the...
A popular right-wing commentator voiced opposition to all childhood vaccines, calling for a class action lawsuit against pediatricians who don’t accept unvaccinated children at their practices. The commentator also promoted the false claim that doctors receive “bribes” for encouraging their patients to get vaccinated. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These...
On social media, a Kentucky representative promoted a report claiming that over 50 percent of U.S. adults believe that COVID-19 vaccines have caused deaths and that 25 percent of U.S. adults believe they know someone who has died from a COVID-19 vaccine. In response to the post, social...
Last week, a popular conspiracy theorist with a large platform made misleading claims about the live Ebola virus vaccine, which was administered to health care providers in Colorado. His posts alleged those who received this vaccine can become sick with Ebola and infect others through viral shedding. Risk level: Medium...
A recent American Cancer Society projection of 2024 cancer statistics is being used to falsely claim that COVID-19 vaccines are responsible for rising cancer rates that were recorded before the vaccines existed. Some have accused the organization of manipulating data to mask the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on cancer deaths....
Social media posts are voicing support for a New York midwife who has been fined $300,000 by the state’s health department for administering homeopathic pellets instead of required vaccinations to nearly 1,500 children. The midwife had allegedly been falsifying immunization records since at least the 2019-2020 school...
A recent social media post mocked long COVID patients in Minnesota for “blaming everything for their condition except the [COVID-19] vaccine.” The post came in response to Minnesota long COVID patients attending the first U.S. Senate hearing on long COVID. Social media users falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines cause...
A recent Chinese coronavirus study has fueled false claims that researchers created a more deadly COVID-19 variant with a “100 percent kill rate” as a bioweapon. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, infected mice with an existing pangolin coronavirus strain that mutated in a lab. Risk level: Low...
Many posts are mocking the recent death of a sports reporter who criticized a top-ranked tennis player for his anti-vaccine stance, with some insinuating that COVID-19 vaccines caused the reporter’s sudden death. The player was previously barred from several tournaments due to his refusal to get COVID-19 vaccinations and...
Last week, Texas physicians encouraged men to get the HPV vaccine in a local media outlet. The media outlet shared the article in a social media post. Some social media users falsely claimed that the HPV vaccine is dangerous and that it sterilizes people. Others suggested that the HPV vaccine...
Some social media users with large platforms are sharing posts about a Nevada woman who allegedly died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The posts claim the woman’s family was left with $7.5 million in medical bills due to side effects from the vaccines. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These...
A New York-based doctor has lost her medical license after providing vaccine exemptions to children without properly examining them. Some social media users are calling the doctor a hero. Risk level: Low Recommendation: These types of posts promote the false narrative that vaccines are unnecessary and unsafe, and they may...
This week, a social media account for a so-called “health freedom group” in Wisconsin urged its supporters to take action at a public hearing to protect health care providers from discrimination and retaliation for discussing alternative therapies and expressing professional opinions. The group’s post encouraged followers to support two...
A recent news article warns that the COVID-19 variant JN.1 could trigger a “heart failure pandemic,” spurring some social media users to claim the phenomenon is a “coverup” for heart damage caused by COVID-19 vaccines. The article is based on a study that found lasting damage to heart cells...
Spanish-language social media users are promoting the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. Several users quote a doctor who previously circulated false information about vaccines, claiming that ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine were the “solution” to the pandemic but that it was all hidden in favor of “quarantine, masks, and...
A World Economic Forum meeting about global preparedness for “Disease X” caused some on social media to speculate that the event is part of a plan to launch a disease more deadly than COVID-19. English and Spanish language posts express distrust of the World Health Organization, and some users claim...
A social media user with a large platform shared posts claiming that several firefighters in Washington have died from cardiac arrest since 2021. The user implies that these deaths were the result of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for firefighters and claims that vaccine mandates are “murder.” Some commenters agreed. Risk level:...
A functional medicine doctor in Arkansas mocked a physician on social media who stated that their flu infection would have been worse if they hadn’t had their flu shot. The functional medicine doctor claimed that this means the flu vaccine is ineffective. Other social media users who commented on...
A Michigan candidate for Congress faced criticism for supporting vaccines and refusing to state that COVID-19 vaccines should be pulled from the market. This occurred after the candidate responded to a social media post listing other politicians who oppose COVID-19 vaccines. Some social media users claimed the candidate is a...
Five children and one adult in Philadelphia have been infected with measles. The outbreak began at Philadelphia’s top children’s hospital and spread after an infected patient attended a daycare center where some children were too young to receive the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, despite quarantine requirements. Some commenters on...
A recent video clip posted by a popular conservative news personality repeats the debunked claim that COVID-19 vaccines have killed 17 million people. The full video has over 100,000 engagements and clips promoting the false deaths claim are circulating on social media in English and Spanish. Risk level: Medium...
A recent news article about the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccines against long COVID is causing controversy online in English and Spanish language posts. The article summarizes data from numerous peer-reviewed studies, all of which find that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces the risk of long COVID. Some argue that the...
Florida’s surgeon general issued a press release calling for an end to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine use based on unsubstantiated claims about safety. The official dismissed as insufficient a response from the CDC and FDA to his letter asking the agencies to address concerns that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines contain potentially...
As cases of respiratory viruses rise, local media outlets in Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky are urging residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, flu, and RSV. In comments on these articles, some social media users falsely claimed that vaccines are dangerous and ineffective, and others falsely claimed that disease...
A California group is expressing concerns about the HPV vaccine on social media. The group’s post states that despite the enactment of AB 659—a law recommending the HPV vaccine—the vaccine remains non-mandatory, and parents maintain the right to decide against vaccinating their children. The group advises parents...
The CDC recently issued a Health Alert Network advisory, emphasizing low vaccination rates for COVID-19 and the flu and highlighting potential strain on health care systems. A doctor in Ohio shared this alert on social media. In response, a prominent vaccine opponent on social media expressed optimism about low vaccination...
Several Spanish-language social media posts are raising concerns about alleged increasing rates of myocarditis. One post featured U.S. media personalities falsely claiming that myocarditis is widespread and that half of young adults who experience myocarditis face permanent heart damage. Another post falsely claimed that myocarditis rates have surged by...
A vaccine opponent group shared a video news segment on social media that is raising concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. The video claims that in 2021, a group of 18 people in Connecticut experienced cardiac issues due to a “defective” batch of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. In comments on the video,...
A trending social media post recirculated the false claim that ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine can treat COVID-19. The post also falsely claimed that the pharmaceutical industry is covering up the benefits of these medications because they threaten the vaccine industry. Risk level: High Recommendation: These types of posts may discourage patients...
Multiple social media users are claiming that the former Italian Minister of Health is under investigation for homicide due to allegations of concealing COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths. In response, some social media users are expressing concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: While conversations about this claim are unlikely...
Several social media users recently alleged that Texas Children’s Hospital sent out an email to parents of patients stating that they will no longer treat unvaccinated or undervaccinated children. The hospital has stated to media outlets that the email is illegitimate. One of the top social media posts sharing...
One hundred firefighters who were suspended for refusing to comply with COVID-19 vaccine requirements filed a lawsuit against the state of California. In response to this lawsuit, some social media users are raising concerns about the constitutionality of vaccine mandates. Others are expressing skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy...
As flu cases rise in the Northeast, several local health departments have been promoting the flu vaccine on social media. The New York City Department of Health shared social media posts about the spike in flu cases and highlighted how getting vaccinated helps vulnerable groups. Some social media users commented...
In a widely circulated social media post, a user claimed to have observed numerous heart attacks and strokes among young people while working at a hospital on a North Dakota Native reservation. The user attributed these medical emergencies to the COVID-19 vaccine. Some social media users commented on the post...
In a letter to the head of the FDA, the Florida surgeon general raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. In the letter, the surgeon claimed that COVID-19 vaccines contain SV40, a virus associated with cancer. The letter called for a response from the FDA by...
Earlier this month, reports claimed that a lead database administrator for New Zealand’s public health ministry leaked COVID-19 vaccine mortality data, revealing an allegedly high death count linked to certain vaccine batches. Online conversations about these reports have persisted in English and in Spanish. Social media users are continuing...
A popular social media post asked health care providers whether they have seen an increase in strokes, heart attacks, myocarditis, infertility, and deaths in the Muslim community. The post falsely claims that Muslim communities are largely unvaccinated against COVID-19 because the vaccines are not halal. The post also suggests that...
California health officials are warning of a winter surge in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, and are encouraging residents to get vaccinated. Some social media users are claiming that vaccines are making people sick and causing the surge. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: These types of social media...
A bill introduced into the Illinois House last week aims to amend the Illinois Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank Act. The proposed changes would require blood banks to test donated blood for evidence of COVID-19 vaccines and mRNA vaccine components. Blood donors would also be required to disclose whether they...
A Florida senator introduced S.B. 636, which expands vaccine exemptions. The bill states that no vaccine can be mandated for employment, enrollment in school, or licensure unless the vaccine has undergone trials for at least one year against a control group and the vaccine manufacturer is willing to assume...
A news site recently released a video raising alarm about a New York court ruling. The video host falsely claims the ruling empowers the state to relocate unvaccinated people to housing facilities and control their activities. Comments on the video share the host’s concerns. Risk level: Low Recommendation: While...
A recent article has made false claims about Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, alleging that they contain billions of DNA fragments linked to serious health issues, including birth defects and cancer. The article also suggests that Pfizer’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccines contain similar contaminants. Social media users with prominent...
Recent reports claim that a lead database administrator for New Zealand’s public health ministry leaked COVID-19 vaccine mortality data, revealing a high death count linked to certain vaccine batches. The report falsely claims that COVID-19 vaccines have caused 13 million deaths worldwide. The whistleblower reportedly faces prison time after...
The Texas attorney general has initiated legal action against Pfizer, alleging that the pharmaceutical company misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccines. The lawsuit further accuses Pfizer of using social media to intimidate and silence critics. In response, Pfizer has stated that the case lacks merit and maintains that its...
A social media user shared the story of a California state employee who recently died due to an unspecified medical emergency. The post attributed the employee’s death to the COVID-19 vaccine and California’s vaccine mandate for state employees, despite having no evidence to support this claim. The post...
Recent changes to the South Dakota Department of Health’s Community Health Services and the Women, Infants, and Children program have resulted in counties losing community health nurses. This has led to a decline in vaccination rates. Social media users are applauding the decline in vaccination rates and expressing concerns...
North Carolina and Mississippi recently recorded their first pediatric flu deaths of the 2023-2024 flu season. Additionally, North Carolina reported five flu-associated deaths in adults. In response, state health officials have called for parents to vaccinate their children against the flu and other respiratory illnesses and have provided guidance to...
An article discussing a former New York City firefighter’s alleged vaccine “injury” is circulating on social media. The former firefighter claims he was forced to retire on half of his salary due to permanent heart damage caused by the city-mandated COVID-19 vaccine. He also claimed to experience an immediate...
Social media users are falsely claiming that Iceland has banned COVID-19 vaccines amid rising deaths and adverse events, including strokes, blood clots, and sudden cardiac arrests. This allegation stems from a news article, which stated that flu vaccines would be available to the public in Iceland, but not COVID-19 vaccines....
A recent analysis of U.K. government data claims there has been a significant increase in cancer deaths in people between the ages of 15 and 44. Vaccine opponent groups and social media users are linking this analysis to previous claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause “turbo cancer.” Risk level: High...
A recent analysis falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have killed 17 million people. The analysis was presented at a summit that challenged COVID-19 vaccines and policies. The researchers who conducted the analysis concluded that COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines should be classified as lethal toxic agents. In response to these...
A physician on social media recently shared a California study that observed a potential increase in heart inflammation following the administration of mRNA vaccines. The study, which was originally submitted as a presentation at the 2021 Scientific Sessions for the American Heart Association (AHA), has since been discredited by the...
The Kenosha County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors approved a policy that prevents the county’s health officer from imposing lockdowns and mask and vaccine mandates during future public health crises. The policy states that the county will not use its resources voluntarily to support state or federal mandates, complying only...
Texas signed into law S.B. 7, which prohibits private employers from implementing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Many popular social media posts celebrated the law, and some called for further legal protections against mandates, particularly for students. Others argued that the bills did not go far enough and should protect against...
Several social media posts are spreading fears about the impact of a potential World Health Organization pandemic treaty. The WHO set a May 2024 deadline to implement a program that coordinates global efforts to prevent future public health emergencies. Social media posts allege that this would allow the WHO to...
Vaccine opponents' social media accounts are using a story about a young child in New York who died two days after getting routine vaccinations to spread false narratives about the safety of vaccines for children and babies. The child’s family linked the child’s death to vaccines on...
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,...
A video of a presidential candidate claiming that the pharmaceutical industry derives profits from the sale of medications intended to address alleged vaccine-related injuries is circulating on social media. The candidate referenced the 1986 Vaccine Injury Act, which resulted from the dismissed claim against Wyeth (now Pfizer) for vaccine injury...
California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with the state legislature, eliminated religious exemptions for mandatory school vaccines through Senate Bill 277 (SB277). This move prompted a group of parents to file a federal lawsuit backed by a faith-based organization. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of SB277, which permits only medical exemptions...
Two individuals have died from the flu in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The department has urged residents to get vaccinated against influenza, highlighting that there were more than 270 deaths in the previous flu season. The announcement sparked a social media debate on the efficacy and...
In South Florida, over a dozen parents filed a lawsuit after their children suffered from infections following vaccination appointments in summer 2021. The children were of varying ages and received different vaccines, but all went to the same doctor. While the actual cause of the infection is unknown, parents are...
Multiple social media posts attributed COVID-19 vaccines to excess deaths. One of the top posts featured a video of a Puerto Rican Congressional delegate who spoke about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines, calling vaccines a “global genocide.” Other posts claimed COVID-19 vaccines have caused the deaths of 120,000 U....
A group opposing childhood vaccine mandates has sued the city of Philadelphia. The lawsuit claims Philadelphia has been vaccinating minors secretly under the 2007 General Minor Consent Regulation, which allows children 11 years and older to consent to vaccination without parental knowledge. An article regarding the lawsuit questioned children'...
Several social media posts are claiming that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are dangerous because of their ability to stimulate the production of spike proteins. One post claims that the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in mRNA vaccines are poisonous and can spread to the heart and ovaries. Others claim the spike proteins produced...
Several social media posts recently promoted ivermectin for its alleged ability to treat and prevent an array of illnesses. Some promoted ivermectin as a treatment for the flu and RSV, while others alleged it can treat shingles, autoimmune conditions, COVID-19, and the common cold. Some also claimed ivermectin can treat...
In California, proposed legislation AB 6591 is gaining attention. The legislation would mandate the HPV vaccine for students in public and private schools without religious or conscientious exemptions. In March 2023, a physician’s organization known for opposing vaccines released a letter opposing AB 6591. The letter is currently recirculating...
A retracted study of COVID-19 vaccines has resurfaced online. This occurred in the wake of reports that the study’s author had been cleared after an investigation into his research practices. The study had estimated vaccine-related deaths as high as 278,000 in the U.S., but it was later...
The Florida Department of Health has issued updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance to health care providers. Messaging continues to recommend against mRNA COVID-19 boosters for those under the age of 65. The guidance also urges doctors to address concerns with patients about waning effectiveness of the vaccine over time, risks of...
The Pennsylvania Department of Health posted on social media to encourage Pennsylvanians to get the flu vaccine, but social media users pushed back against the message. In comments, social media users shared their alleged adverse vaccine effects and attributed Guillain-Barré syndrome to the flu vaccine. One described the vaccine as...
On October 28, actor Matthew Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub. In the wake of Perry’s death, social media users are speculating that his death was related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Similar statements have circulated in the past when other celebrities or notable figures have died. Risk...
An FDA assessment detected a potential increased stroke risk for adults over 85 following the flu vaccine, whether or not it was administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. While the results are preliminary and health experts have stated that the benefits of vaccination still outweigh the risks,...
In the past week, social media users have made numerous false claims about the flu vaccine. Some physicians on social media are claiming the flu vaccine is ineffective. Other social media users are expressing concerns about the safety of flu vaccine ingredients, alleging the vaccine contains mercury, E. coli, cow...
A recent presentation at the Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee in Phoenix, Arizona, is gaining attention on social media. The event featured speakers who have advocated for unproven COVID-19 treatments and promoted religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. During the presentation, one speaker falsely attributed 600,000 deaths to the...
The Michigan Senate has passed Senate Bill 410. This bill would repeal Michigan's law granting drug manufacturers broad immunity from product liability claims if their products are approved by the FDA. Michigan is currently the only state with such a law, which has shielded pharmaceutical companies from liability...
A Mississippi group is questioning the efficacy of flu vaccines. In a social media post, the group argues that the flu virus has persisted, despite the vaccine being available for 82 years. The post suggests this means the flu vaccine is ineffective. Some social media users expressed disagreement, attributing the...
In a recent press release, Pfizer included investor notes containing safety recommendations for their COVID-19 vaccines. Trending social media posts are sharing a screenshot from this release, which discusses the risk of vaccine-induced myocarditis in young males. Some social media users claim Pfizer is acknowledging that the COVID-19 vaccine causes...
A group in Massachusetts has been sharing video testimonies about alleged vaccine injuries. People in the videos state they were coerced into getting the COVID-19 vaccine and subsequently suffered severe health issues. These posts aim to raise support for the bill H734, which would ban vaccine mandates. The group also...
Prominent figures on social media are expressing concerns about the safety and efficacy of routine vaccines. A doctor who has regularly questioned vaccine safety claims there is not enough evidence to show that routine vaccines prevent disease transmission in workplaces and schools. Meanwhile, a global vaccine opponent group is calling...
In an preprint study analyzing the safety of monovalent COVID-19 vaccines in children and teenagers, the FDA identified the following safety concerns: myocarditis, pericarditis, convulsions, and seizures, although the rates of seizures were not statistically different from rates naturally occuring in the population. The FDA concluded that the known and...
On October 13, the California Governor signed Assembly Bill 659 (AB 659), which recommends that students under the age of 26 receive the HPV vaccine. Social media posts from the bill’s opponents falsely claim that the HPV vaccine is ineffective and poses serious risks to young people, causing fainting,...
Measles cases have emerged in Wisconsin and Illinois, drawing prompt responses from health officials. Some social media posts attribute the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases to vaccine opponents’ denial of widely accepted public health practices, while others attribute the outbreak to immigration. Some social media posts falsely equated measles with chickenpox,...
In a special session, Texas senators introduced legislation prohibiting private employers from implementing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Senate passed the bill, and it is now under review by the House Committee. Politicians in support of the bill stated it would return medical freedom to Texans. Critics of the bill stated...
A recent article alleges the White House was aware that COVID-19 vaccines might have serious side effects and actively attempted to conceal this information. The article claims to have obtained redacted emails through a Freedom of Information Act request, revealing discussions on vaccine safety concerns related to Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Syndrome...
The New York Supreme Court upheld a ruling that strikes down COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. This decision prevents New York’s governor from issuing vaccine mandates for healthcare workers in the future. Viral social media posts from those who oppose vaccine mandates are calling the ruling a “victory....
A story is circulating on social media from a 24-year-old Navy veteran who states he was discharged from the military due to vaccine-derived myocarditis. His post prompted six U.S. senators to send a letter to the Department of Veteran Affairs. The letter demands that the department investigate disability claims...
In the past week, social media posts drew comparisons between the actions of Hamas and alleged harms caused by Pfizer. The posts state that those who are troubled by Hamas' activities should also express concern about Pfizer, suggesting that Pfizer’s vaccines are responsible for mass death and are...
Several weeks ago, NFL star Travis Kelce was featured in a Pfizer commercial for the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Media personalities claimed Kelce was “leading people to their slaughter” by promoting the vaccine. Another NFL star, Aaron Rodgers, mocked Kelce on a popular football show, advocating against the COVID-19 vaccine and...
A Washington-based pathologist has raised concerns about the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. In a circulating interview, he falsely claims that the spike protein in the vaccine causes severe damage. He also mentions that he has prescribed unapproved treatments like ivermectin with what he claims to be positive results....
A so-called health freedom group in Michigan has falsely claimed that the only people who need the hepatitis B vaccine are sex workers and people who use intravenous drugs. The group argues that children do not need the vaccine, even though children can contract hepatitis B by putting infected items...
A Texas college of medicine has enforced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for its students, faculty, and staff, sparking concerns over diminishing health freedom within the state. Despite the Texas governor’s opposition to COVID-19-related restrictions, publicly funded institutions can still enforce vaccine mandates. In response to public pressure and calls...
New York City is seeing an increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases, with around 500 cases of active TB reported in 2023. Several factors are driving this resurgence, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine hesitancy. Some articles suggest that in the past year, the arrival of over...
A speaker at a recent World Economic Forum (WEF) event discussed water equity. Social media users are misrepresenting the speaker’s comments, suggesting that WEF will soon attempt to depopulate the earth by attacking the water supply. Some social media users also claim there are COVID-19 vaccines in the water...
An article discussing a recent Japanese study suggests that COVID-19 subvariants, including recent ones like EG.5.1 and BA.X, could potentially have been developed in a lab. The study claims that these variants contain mutations that are unlikely to have emerged through natural processes, raising questions about their...
A Georgia-based group raised concerns about adverse events for routine immunizations, claiming that it only takes one vaccine to harm a child. The group shared an image promoting a social media account which has a history of linking vaccines to SIDS, autism, fertility issues, cancer, and death. In the comments,...
A former U.S. president recently expressed his opposition to vaccine mandates at a California campaign event. He asserted his intention to withhold funding from California schools that implement vaccine and mask mandates if he is elected president next year. At a separate event in California, he also endorsed a...
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’...
A social media post has made unfounded claims about the safety of vaccines. The post claims that the Rockefeller family owns the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health and is therefore in control of the health care system. The post also includes a video of a woman...
Several popular posts have raised concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines and cancer. One post promoted claims from a genomics scientist and his discovery of what he believes to be contamination in vials of COVID-19 vaccines. In a similar vein, a circulating article promoted concerns about SV40 and stated that COVID-19 vaccines...
In a series of viral posts, a high profile CEO of a social media platform challenged vaccine safety and efficacy. His first post featured media headlines showing vaccine efficacy rates dropping and pharmaceutical company profits rising. He stated that he himself was nearly hospitalized due to an alleged “vaccine injury....
Several social media posts are referencing a study to argue that COVID-19 vaccines are ineffective in providing protection against the virus. The study, which examined California's prison system, showed that incarcerated people who had received the COVID-19 vaccine had a slightly higher infection rate than those who had...
October has been designated as Vaccine Injury Awareness Month by many vaccine opponents. A group in Michigan is promoting its fourth annual Vaccine Injury Awareness Walk on October 7 in Waterford. The group’s website also features several stories about people who believe that they or their loved ones have...
In early September, the South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Ad-Hoc Committee conducted hearings on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and information from these hearings has garnered significant attention on social media. One video features a University of South Carolina professor who claims that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine contains plasma DNA...
A recent study published in The Lancet has raised concerns regarding the presence of mRNA in breast milk after COVID-19 vaccination. The study found that only trace quantities of mRNA vaccine were present in breast milk and determined that breastfeeding post-vaccination is safe for infants. Despite those findings, prominent social...
A group advocating against vaccine mandates protested in New York City on September 18th and 19th. The protest occurred when the WHO and the United Nations convened to discuss key takeaways from the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies for better preparedness against future pandemics. Demonstrators claimed that the WHO is attempting...
A video of a presidential candidate alleging a connection between the chickenpox vaccine and shingles is circulating on social media. In the video, the candidate claims that studies have shown a connection between widespread chickenpox vaccination and shingles epidemics. In a separate post, the candidate raises concerns about the COVID-19...
Online backlash emerged after the CDC recommended that pregnant people get the RSV vaccine. One popular article alleges that the RSV vaccine will result in the deaths of 4,000 newborns and claims that the vaccine is linked to a heightened risk of premature births and infant mortality, despite clinical...
A physician from Iowa known for opposing COVID-19 vaccines and promoting the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 is suing a Missouri hospital over its staff vaccination requirements. In 2021, the hospital mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for staff, and the doctor’s request for religious exemption was denied. The lawsuit alleges...
Arkansas signed into law S.B. 3, which prohibits the government from mandating COVID-19 vaccination for public employees or state funded entities, with an exception for entities that stand to lose federal funding should they remove vaccine mandates. The bill also requires the Department of Health to maintain and publicize...
An online influencer has manipulated CDC data to support their argument that COVID-19 vaccines are ineffective at preventing COVID-19 deaths. Their trending post cherry-picks slides from the CDC’s ACIP presentation, suggesting that vaccinating one million teenagers would, at best, prevent only one death and potentially result in 200,000...
Social media users are sharing a recent video of Dr. Anthony Fauci stating that the COVID-19 vaccine carries a low risk of myocarditis among young men. Responses to these posts allege that concerns about myocarditis related to mRNA vaccines have been understated throughout the pandemic. In the video, Dr. Fauci...
A story has gone viral about an infant in Maine who died 34 hours after receiving childhood vaccines in October 2022. According to the article, a toxicology report revealed that the infant’s blood had a dangerously high level of aluminum, which the article attributes to the vaccines. The infant’...
Numerous social media users have raised concerns regarding what they claim is insufficient testing for the recently updated COVID-19 vaccine. Tweets allege that Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 vaccine was tested on just 10 mice before approval. These posts misuse a COVID-19 vaccine study involving 44 rats, not four. The study...
The Huntington Beach City Council in California has voted 4-3 to pursue a ban on universal mask and COVID-19 vaccine mandates within the city. The motion’s proponent argued that previous mask mandates imposed in 2020 and 2021 unnecessarily limited people’s freedoms. The resolution now requests that the city...
According to a recently published article, nearly two dozen schools in Dane County have vaccination rates of 85 percent or lower, which health officials deem a risk for disease outbreaks. This trend is partly attributed to more parents seeking philosophical waivers to exempt their children from vaccines; Wisconsin’s nonmedical...
The Florida Surgeon General warned against COVID-19 vaccines at a recent press conference, claiming that there are numerous red flags with the updated vaccine. He argued that there is no need for updated COVID-19 vaccines, claimed there is a lack of clinical trial data, and cited previously debunked concerns about...
Trending conversations falsely claim that federal officials covered up research into the benefits of vitamin D to treat COVID-19, resulting in a higher death toll. The posts misuse a publication by New Zealand's chief science advisor in June 2020, which initially linked vitamin D deficiency to severe COVID-19...
False narratives that mRNA vaccines cause turbo cancers are circulating across platforms and in English and Spanish language networks. Specifically, they claim that turbo cancers are occurring more rapidly, particularly in young adults, that the CDC is reclassifying cancer deaths as COVID-19 deaths to cover up rising turbo cancers, and...
A well-known organization that frequently advocates against vaccination is embarking on a bus tour across multiple cities in the Northeast, including Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Albany, Long Island, and Rochester. Their goal is to collect personal accounts from local residents who have experienced alleged adverse effects from vaccines, are unvaccinated, or are...
A former news host claims that she developed an autoimmune condition after being vaccinated for COVID-19. She says that her doctor confirmed the connection between the vaccine and autoimmune conditions, and that others have experienced similar issues after vaccination. This news has garnered significant attention on X (formerly Twitter), with...
The state of Hawaii has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the aftermath of the Maui fires. Health officials believe that the current case count could be at least six times higher due to decreased testing compared to a year ago and the presence of the new variant...
Rumors have been circulating regarding New York City officials’ stance on vaccination requirements for migrant children attending school. A video surfaced showing a New York City official incorrectly stating that migrant students would not require proof of vaccination to attend school. Subsequently, she issued a correction, clarifying that schools are...
The Ottawa County Commission passed a resolution that recommends any vaccine promotions by the county include information on exemptions and waivers, vaccine package inserts, ingredients, and a link to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) data. The resolution also emphasizes parents’ rights to not vaccinate their children. Risk level:...
The governor of Arkansas shared a video clip stating that, so long as she is governor, there will be no future lockdowns, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, or mask mandates. She details the harm caused by lockdown procedures and states that politicians and public health entities are discussing implementing mitigation efforts again....
A recent study investigating the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on various autoimmune skin conditions found no significant impact in the occurrence or exacerbation of these conditions. However, vaccine opponents are misrepresenting the study to claim that COVID-19 vaccines cause autoimmune disorders. Risk level: Medium Recommendation: Misrepresenting studies and cherry-picking data...
Multiple popular social media accounts are calling for people to avoid COVID-19 PCR tests, allegedly because the U.S. government plans to manipulate the positive test numbers to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. Conspiracy theorists warn of upcoming COVID-19 vaccine mandates from the federal government and refer to the vaccines as “biological...
A viral tweet compares the trends in vaccination rates and the reported rise in autism diagnoses since 1983. It speculates that, by 2025, 50% of the population could be diagnosed with autism. The post includes a video featuring a well-known vaccine opponent in which he expresses concerns about safety testing...