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A controversial physician whose board certification was revoked for promoting “false or inaccurate medical misinformation” claimed in a recent interview to have treated hundreds of patients with COVID-19 vaccine injuries.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...
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...
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...
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:...
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