Flawed speculative study incorrectly claims that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cause neurodegenerative diseases

CLAIM
“Pfizer [COVID-19] vaccine confirmed to cause neurodegenerative diseases”; “mRNA vaccines […] can integrate into the human genome”

SOURCE: Nathaniel Linderman, National File

Published: 29 Apr 2021

VERDICT

COVID-19 vaccines don’t cause herpes infections; a possible association with the reactivation of herpes zoster in patients with rheumatic diseases remains unconfirmed

CLAIM
“Herpes infections may be a side effect of a COVID-19 vaccine”

SOURCE: Jackie Salo, Social media users, New York Post, Facebook, Instagram

Published: 26 Apr 2021

VERDICT

Current data from clinical trials offer no reliable evidence that ivermectin is effective against COVID-19; better-quality clinical trials are needed to resolve this question

CLAIM
“Ivermectin is the only thing we have that treats COVID at all stages […] Ivermectin substantially reduces deaths from COVID and prevents infections”; 50 studies “show ivermectin is not just effective, but highly effective”

SOURCE: Craig Kelly, Tess Lawrie, Sky News

Published: 25 Apr 2021

VERDICT

Using face masks reduces the transmission of COVID-19 and doesn’t lead to oxygen deficiency or carbon dioxide buildup in the blood

CLAIM
“Both medical and non-medical face masks are ineffective to reduce transmission and infectivity of COVID-19”; “long-term consequences of wearing face masks on health are detrimental [including hypoxemia and hypercapnia]”

SOURCE: JD Rucker, Baruch Vainshelboim, American Conservative Movement

Published: 23 Apr 2021

VERDICT

DARPA developed a hydrogel sensor which monitors blood for infections at early stages, not a microchip for COVID-19 identification or location tracker

CLAIM
“Pentagon develops microchip that detects COVID under your skin”; Pentagon microchip can track your location

SOURCE: Ben Swann, Truth In Media

Published: 22 Apr 2021

VERDICT

Oral contraceptives have a bigger risk factor for blood clot formation than the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines

CLAIM
“Birth control has a far greater risk of blood clots than any Covid-19 vaccine so far”

SOURCE: Carter Sherman, Vice News

Published: 20 Apr 2021

VERDICT

The World Health Organization doesn’t recommend ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment; the drug’s safety and effectiveness remains uncertain in COVID-19 patients

CLAIM
“WHO data shows [that] ivermectin reduces COVID-19 mortality by 81%, but they won’t recommend it?”

SOURCE: Joe Martino, Collective Evolution

Published: 19 Apr 2021

VERDICT

Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms; other factors may determine an individual’s susceptibility to infection, but the microorganism is still the cause

CLAIM
“…a virus is not the cause of an illness. It’s a necessary cause […] but it is not the cause.”

SOURCE: Lisa Feldman Barrett, Facebook

Published: 16 Apr 2021

VERDICT

No evidence that “keto diet pills” are effective for long-term weight management; Shark Tank judges didn’t endorse a “keto diet pill”

CLAIM
Ketogenic-based supplements let you lose weight while sleeping; Shark Tank judges backed “keto diet pill”

SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook

Published: 15 Apr 2021

VERDICT

COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time due to scientists’ good understanding of similar coronaviruses and unprecedented investments from companies and governments

CLAIM
“No vaccine for HIV after 40 years of research. No vaccine for the common cold [...] A virus mysteriously appears and within a year a vaccine is created and we are all expected to take it.”

SOURCE: Anonymous, Instagram

Published: 14 Apr 2021

VERDICT