Claim reviews
Persistent myths that HIV was created by the West and that HIV medication causes HIV are both false
CLAIM
“HIV was an invention created by the West”, people “took the HIV medication and got HIV”, you can “reverse HIV naturally”
SOURCE: Yahdan Yada, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 30 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children are unrelated to COVID-19 vaccines
CLAIM
Cases of acute hepatitis in children are linked to COVID-19 vaccines
SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram, Twitter
Published: 29 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Claim that squalene in vaccines causes autoimmune diseases and Gulf War Syndrome is unsubstantiated by evidence
CLAIM
Squalene in vaccines caused Gulf War Syndrome; the World Health Organization aims to depopulate the world with sterility-causing vaccines
SOURCE: Rima Laibow, Conspiracy Theory With Jesse Ventura
Published: 26 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Social media posts inaccurately link hormonal contraceptives with polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, and depression
CLAIM
Hormonal birth control is associated with “PCOS [polycystic ovarian syndrome], hormonal imbalances, depression, and infertility”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Reallygraceful
Published: 24 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Claim by Mercola that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine causes immunosuppression is inaccurate, misrepresents study’s findings
CLAIM
“Pfizer Knew About Immunosuppression”; “Fully Vaxxed Are More Likely to Die From COVID”
SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Mercola, The Epoch Times
Published: 21 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Insufficient clinical evidence demonstrating that turmeric cures or prevents cancer
CLAIM
“turmeric prevents cancer”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Natural Solutions Magazine
Published: 20 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Fluoride in toothpaste effectively prevents tooth decay; it isn’t neurotoxic, contrary to online claims
CLAIM
“Toothpaste is poisonous”; “fluoride is a neurotoxin” and doesn’t prevent tooth decay
SOURCE: Charlotte Gerson, Facebook
Published: 13 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Comparing SARS-CoV-2 infection rate of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations doesn’t reflect the real COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness
CLAIM
The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate is higher among vaccinated than unvaccinated in the UK
SOURCE: Gregg Schmedes, Facebook
Published: 13 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Higher myocarditis risk after COVID-19 than mRNA vaccination; contrary to Peter McCullough’s claim, young persons decrease their risk by getting vaccinated
CLAIM
“We have 21,000 cases of myocarditis and climbing. […] Under no circumstances, should a young person ever receive one of these vaccines”
SOURCE: Peter McCullough, Instagram, Facebook
Published: 09 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Current evidence doesn’t indicate that sunscreen ingredients increase the risk of cancer; it shows that unprotected sun exposure does
CLAIM
“Sunscreens cause cancer, not the sun”; sunscreen and sunless tanning products contain cancer-causing ingredients
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 09 Apr 2022
VERDICT