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...
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