Claim reviews
Social media account “I AM Awakened” exploits seasonal illness surge to promote conspiracy that chemicals in food cause a “plandemic”
CLAIM
The pandemic was planned; respiratory illness surge in New York and China isn’t airborne but due to chlorine and benzene in food and water
SOURCE: Alexander Cole, I AM Awakened
Published: 11 Jan 2024
VERDICT
Scam ads use a fake endorsement by Ben Carson to promote unproven hypertension treatment
CLAIM
Ben Carson endorsed CBD gummies and “3 completely natural ingredients” to cure hypertension
SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook
Published: 08 Jan 2024
VERDICT
Dubious Facebook ads promote unproven supplement SightCare alleged to restore “perfect” vision and cure macular degeneration
CLAIM
Natural supplement SightCare restores “perfect 20/20 vision without glasses, contacts or surgery”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook
Published: 05 Jan 2024
VERDICT
Approved COVID-19 vaccines don’t contain HIV proteins and don’t cause AIDS, contrary to claim misquoting BBC documentary
CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines contain proteins from HIV; “if you have taken the third dose, go and take a test for AIDS, then sue your government”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 27 Dec 2023
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and don’t increase mortality, contrary James Thorp’s claim
CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates”
SOURCE: James Thorp, The Wellness Company
Published: 22 Dec 2023
VERDICT
Andrew Tate peddles debunked claim about COVID-19 vaccines being “experimental poison” in Piers Morgan interview
CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines are “experimental poison”; COVID has gone away
SOURCE: Andrew Tate, Piers Morgan Uncensored
Published: 14 Dec 2023
VERDICT
Addressing false claims that Vitamin K shots have toxic levels of aluminum, Hepatitis B vaccines contain toxic ingredients, and more
CLAIM
Vitamin K shots are dangerous because of toxic levels of aluminum; Hepatitis B vaccines contain toxic ingredients
SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram
Published: 13 Dec 2023
VERDICT
Steve Kirsch’s claim that New Zealand data shows COVID-19 vaccines killed millions is based on a flawed analysis
CLAIM
“the COVID vaccines have killed millions of people worldwide, an estimated 1 death per 1,000 doses on average in a standard population”
SOURCE: Steve Kirsch, Substack
Published: 08 Dec 2023
VERDICT
Headlines overlook risk of COVID-19 by claiming Estonia study shows natural immunity is superior to vaccination
CLAIM
“Natural Immunity Better Than Protection From COVID-19 Vaccination, researchers in Estonia found”
SOURCE: Zachary Stieber, The Epoch Times
Published: 08 Dec 2023
VERDICT
Published studies misrepresented by cardiologist Peter McCullough to push false claim that COVID-19 vaccines cause sudden cardiac death
CLAIM
Published studies show that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cause metabolic cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death
SOURCE: Peter McCullough, One America News Network
Published: 30 Nov 2023
VERDICT