Claim reviews
Cancer and heart disease remain the two leading causes of death in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic
CLAIM
“No one has died of cancer or heart disease since the COVID-19 thing started”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 30 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Vaccine boosters help maintain protection provided by initial vaccination; boosters have been used for routine vaccinations like tetanus and polio for decades
CLAIM
A COVID-19 booster means that the initial vaccination didn’t work
SOURCE: Facebook users , Facebook
Published: 28 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Multiple scientific studies suggest that masking can help limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools, contrary to claim in Federalist article
CLAIM
“There’s no science behind masks on kids”.
SOURCE: Shawn Fleetwood, The Federalist
Published: 27 Aug 2021
VERDICT
The development of mRNA vaccines was a collaborative effort; Robert Malone contributed to their development, but he is not their inventor
CLAIM
“Dr. Malone is the inventor of mRNA vaccines”
SOURCE: Robert Malone, Twitter
Published: 26 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Study in Vietnam showed that Delta infection results in a higher viral load compared to earlier strains, not that vaccinated people are more infectious than unvaccinated people
CLAIM
“vaccinated individuals carry 251 times the load of COVID-19 viruses in their nostrils compared to the unvaccinated”
SOURCE: Peter McCullough, Children’s Health Defense
Published: 26 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated its efficacy and safety in several stages of clinical trials before been authorized for emergency use, and therefore isn’t experimental
CLAIM
“Today the FDA announced they approved a drug whose Phase III clinical trials are not expected to be completed for two more years”
SOURCE: Benjamin Benulis, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 26 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Janci Chunn Lindsay’s claims that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe are inaccurate and unsupported by scientific evidence
CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines will cause blood clotting, fertility problems, and immune escape
SOURCE: Janci Chunn Lindsay, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Published: 23 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Video shared by Sebastian Gorka Facebook page shows nurse making false and unsubstantiated claims about ivermectin, COVID-19 PCR tests, and COVID-19 vaccine safety
CLAIM
Ivermectin is an effective COVID-19 treatment; COVID-19 PCR tests lead to false positives; COVID-19 vaccines aren’t working
SOURCE: Nicole Whitley, America First With Dr. Sebastian Gorka
Published: 20 Aug 2021
VERDICT
U.S. prison releases complemented other strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons, including face masks
CLAIM
Masks don’t work; prisoners were released instead of being given masks
SOURCE: Facebook Users , Facebook
Published: 16 Aug 2021
VERDICT
Face masks can filter small airborne particles, including respiratory droplets, and are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19
CLAIM
Science debunks the use of face masks to stop viruses like COVID-19
SOURCE: Byram Bridle, Liz Wheeler, Net Nuance, The Liz Wheeler Show
Published: 14 Aug 2021
VERDICT