Claim reviews
Contrary to Peter McCullough’s claim, getting vaccinated is safer than getting COVID-19, in spite of rare cases of myocarditis
CLAIM
a “game-changing study” showed that “COVID vaccines [were] more dangerous than the virus itself”; “children aged 12 to 17 are more likely to be hospitalized for myocarditis than for COVID.”
SOURCE: Mike Landry, Peter McCullough, The Western Journal
Published: 24 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Joe Rogan interview with Peter McCullough contains multiple false and unsubstantiated claims about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines
CLAIM
the pandemic was planned; the COVID-19 vaccines are experimental; previously infected people have “permanent immunity”; VAERS shows vaccines killed thousands of people, vaccine-induced spike protein causes damage
SOURCE: Peter McCullough, The Joe Rogan Experience
Published: 23 Dec 2021
VERDICT
The benefits of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for children outweigh the low risks, unlike what Robert Malone claimed
CLAIM
mRNA vaccines force “your child’s body to make toxic spike proteins. These proteins often cause permanent damage in children’s critical organs”; “there is no benefit for your children or your family to be vaccinating your children”
SOURCE: Robert Malone, Substack
Published: 20 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Ivermectin study in the city of Itajaí contains several methodological weaknesses, resulting in questionable conclusions
CLAIM
A preprint of an ivermectin study in the Brazilian city of Itajaí found that prophylactic ivermectin reduced COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality by half
SOURCE: Jim Hoft, Daniel Horowitz, Gateway Pundit, ZeroHedge, The Blaze
Published: 18 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Clip of Anthony Fauci discussing potential vaccine safety concerns is from March 2020; current scientific evidence shows COVID-19 vaccines reduce risk of infection and serious illness
CLAIM
“Dr. Fauci opens up the possibility that the COVID-19 vaccine could be making people more likely to be infected by the virus”, “a vaccine that looked good in initial safety actually made people worse”
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn
Published: 15 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Unsupported claim about COVID-19 vaccines, anti-spike antibodies, and myocarditis misrepresented conclusions from a New England Journal of Medicine article
CLAIM
“antibodies that people produce against the coronavirus spike protein may lead to myocarditis”
SOURCE: Jim Hoft, Alex Berenson, Gateway Pundit
Published: 09 Dec 2021
VERDICT
No, a fence in a shopping mall wasn’t used to segregate vaccinated and unvaccinated people; photo was taken in Romania, not Germany
CLAIM
“In Germany, a fence separates vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The biggest symptom of COVID is insanity”
SOURCE: Young Americans for Liberty, Facebook
Published: 08 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Misleading claims linking the spread of Omicron variant to vaccinated people rely on partial data and are unsubstantiated
CLAIM
'Omicron COVID Variant Found ONLY in Fully Vaccinated'
SOURCE: Bill Hennessy, Gateway Pundit
Published: 03 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Inaccurate clickbait headline in Forbes article used to promote the false claim that COVID-19 vaccines change our DNA
CLAIM
Forbes article is evidence that COVID-19 vaccines change our DNA
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 02 Dec 2021
VERDICT
Pathogens can evolve to be more virulent over time, contrary to nutritionist’s claim
CLAIM
“Pathogens evolve to become less, not more, virulent over time”
SOURCE: Mike Mutzel, Facebook
Published: 01 Dec 2021
VERDICT