Claim reviews
Side effects from vaccination aren’t more dangerous than measles outbreaks
CLAIM
Media exaggerates the harm of some measles cases while it ignores millions of “vaccine injury reports”
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 28 Feb 2025
VERDICT
Vaccine skeptics misconstrue studies to falsely claim that measles vaccine causes measles outbreaks
CLAIM
Measles vaccine caused Texas outbreak; measles vaccine is responsible for measles outbreaks
SOURCE: Baxter Dmitry, Marcella Piper-Terry, The People’s Voice, Children’s Health Defense
Published: 28 Feb 2025
VERDICT
“VAIDS” is not a real medical condition; causes of post-vaccination syndrome require more research
CLAIM
Yale study found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cause “vaccine-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” (VAIDS) and post-vaccination syndrome (PVS)
SOURCE: Liz Wheeler, Facebook
Published: 28 Feb 2025
VERDICT
New study contained methodological limitations and failed to show that COVID-19 vaccines increase disease burden, despite claims by Patrick Flynn
CLAIM
“COVID-19 ‘vaccinated’ people are sicker”; “‘Vaccinated’ individuals experienced [...] higher rates of COVID-19 infections, and increased musculoskeletal issues compared to the unvaccinated”
SOURCE: Patrick Flynn, Facebook
Published: 25 Feb 2025
VERDICT
No evidence that measles prevents cancer or heart disease, can lead to long-term health problems instead
CLAIM
Measles prevents cancer, provides long-term health benefits
SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram
Published: 20 Feb 2025
VERDICT
Sodium azide in some at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits only linked to toxicity due to accidental ingestion and other non-intended uses
CLAIM
At-home COVID-19 test kits contain harmful substances like sodium azide, proving “PCR testing is not good for anyone”
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook
Published: 20 Feb 2025
VERDICT
Altered video of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promotes unproven use of apple cider vinegar as diabetes cure
CLAIM
Apple cider vinegar is a cure for diabetes; it’s an effective substitute to metformin therapy and dietary changes
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook
Published: 18 Feb 2025
VERDICT
Flu vaccine reduces risk of flu-related illness and hospitalization, even though it hasn’t eradicated flu
CLAIM
“We’ve had the flu vaccine for 78 years. We still have the flu.”
SOURCE: Social media users, Threads
Published: 14 Feb 2025
VERDICT
Infants younger than 6 months had the second highest COVID-associated hospitalization rate for most of the pandemic
CLAIM
“Babies under 6 months have the second highest hospitalization rate after the elderly”
SOURCE: Social media user, Facebook
Published: 11 Feb 2025
VERDICT
Viral copypasta posts mislead about cancer causes and testing, promote unproven cancer remedies such as ivermectin, fenbendazole, alkaline water, vitamin B17
CLAIM
A list of alternative cancer treatments can be “successfully used to treat certain cancers”
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook
Published: 06 Feb 2025
VERDICT