Sweetgum balls don’t contain Tamiflu’s active ingredient and there’s no evidence of an antiviral effect against COVID-19

CLAIM
Sweetgum balls contain the same active ingredient that Tamiflu contains, which is shikimic acid; It kills viruses including SARS-CoV-2

SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, TikTok

Published: 27 Jan 2023

VERDICT

CDC data shows that COVID-19 is a major cause of excess deaths in the U.S., contrary to Exposé article ascribing deaths to COVID-19 vaccines

CLAIM
“Secret CDC Report confirms nearly 120k Youngsters 'Died Suddenly' in the USA by Oct. 2022 following roll-out of COVID Vaccines”

SOURCE: Anonymous, The Exposé

Published: 24 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Inhaling hydrogen peroxide to counter pathogens is dangerous

CLAIM
Inhaling hydrogen peroxide kills respiratory tract pathogens

SOURCE: Mike Adams, Infowars

Published: 20 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Misrepresented 2018 clip of Bill Gates trigger inaccurate claims that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for livestock could transfer to people through diet

CLAIM
“Bill Gates Vows To Pump mRNA Into Food Supply To ‘Force-Jab’ the Unvaccinated”

SOURCE: Baxter Dmitry, NewsPunch, The People’s Voice, Headline USA

Published: 18 Jan 2023

VERDICT

The Pfizer bivalent vaccines are very unlikely to increase the risk of ischemic stroke, contrary to claims on social media

CLAIM
The Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine causes strokes

SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram, Twitter

Published: 18 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Tweet by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene misinterpreted; no evidence that XBB.1.5 preferentially infects vaccinated people

CLAIM
“Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 possibly more likely to infect those who are vaccinated, officials say”

SOURCE: Julia Musto, Fox News

Published: 17 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Possible increases in cancer rates and lower life expectancy in 2021 are primarily driven by effects of COVID-19, not vaccination

CLAIM
“Cancer rates have increased since the introduction of the COVID-19 shots”, which “is driving down U.S. life expectancy”

SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Children's Health Defense

Published: 13 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Excess deaths in the U.K. remain below the pandemic peak and aren’t linked to COVID-19 vaccines

CLAIM
More people are dying now than at the peak of the pandemic; the COVID-19 vaccines are the cause of the excess deaths seen in late 2022

SOURCE: Antony Newby, Facebook

Published: 13 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase the risk of death, contrary to claim by financier Edward Dowd

CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines are causing excess deaths around the world; sudden adult death syndrome is new

SOURCE: Edward Dowd, Aubrey Marcus, Aubrey Marcus Podcast

Published: 11 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Simulation exercises such as “Catastrophic Contagion” are a normal part of pandemic preparedness; they don’t predict future pandemics

CLAIM
The tabletop exercise “Catastrophic Contagion” means that “Bill Gates and WHO have announced when we will see the next pandemic”

SOURCE: Natali Morris, Clayton Morris, Youtube

Published: 10 Jan 2023

VERDICT