Scam ads use a fake endorsement by Ben Carson to promote unproven hypertension treatment

CLAIM
Ben Carson endorsed CBD gummies and “3 completely natural ingredients” to cure hypertension

SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook

Published: 08 Jan 2024

VERDICT

Dubious Facebook ads promote unproven supplement SightCare alleged to restore “perfect” vision and cure macular degeneration

CLAIM
Natural supplement SightCare restores “perfect 20/20 vision without glasses, contacts or surgery”

SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook

Published: 05 Jan 2024

VERDICT

Approved COVID-19 vaccines don’t contain HIV proteins and don’t cause AIDS, contrary to claim misquoting BBC documentary

CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines contain proteins from HIV; “if you have taken the third dose, go and take a test for AIDS, then sue your government”

SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook

Published: 27 Dec 2023

VERDICT

COVID-19 vaccines reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and don’t increase mortality, contrary James Thorp’s claim

CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates”

SOURCE: James Thorp, The Wellness Company

Published: 22 Dec 2023

VERDICT

Andrew Tate peddles debunked claim about COVID-19 vaccines being “experimental poison” in Piers Morgan interview

CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines are “experimental poison”; COVID has gone away

SOURCE: Andrew Tate, Piers Morgan Uncensored

Published: 14 Dec 2023

VERDICT

Addressing false claims that Vitamin K shots have toxic levels of aluminum, Hepatitis B vaccines contain toxic ingredients, and more

CLAIM
Vitamin K shots are dangerous because of toxic levels of aluminum; Hepatitis B vaccines contain toxic ingredients

SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram

Published: 13 Dec 2023

VERDICT

Steve Kirsch’s claim that New Zealand data shows COVID-19 vaccines killed millions is based on a flawed analysis

CLAIM
“the COVID vaccines have killed millions of people worldwide, an estimated 1 death per 1,000 doses on average in a standard population”

SOURCE: Steve Kirsch, Substack

Published: 08 Dec 2023

VERDICT

Headlines overlook risk of COVID-19 by claiming Estonia study shows natural immunity is superior to vaccination

CLAIM
“Natural Immunity Better Than Protection From COVID-19 Vaccination, researchers in Estonia found”

SOURCE: Zachary Stieber, The Epoch Times

Published: 08 Dec 2023

VERDICT

Published studies misrepresented by cardiologist Peter McCullough to push false claim that COVID-19 vaccines cause sudden cardiac death

CLAIM
Published studies show that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cause metabolic cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death

SOURCE: Peter McCullough, One America News Network

Published: 30 Nov 2023

VERDICT

Anti-vaccination organization spreads baseless claim that global HPV vaccination campaign will lead to “mass casualty event”

CLAIM
HPV vaccines are ineffective and cause side effects including autoimmune and neurological disorders, based on VAERS reports

SOURCE: Brenda Baletti, Children's Health Defense

Published: 30 Nov 2023

VERDICT