Claim reviews

CDC’s COVID Data Tracker revised COVID-19 deaths downward, but more reliable mortality data still indicate that COVID-19 is a major cause of death in the U.S.
CLAIM
The CDC “removed tens of thousands of deaths linked to COVID-19, including nearly a quarter of deaths it had listed in those under 18 years old”

SOURCE: Zachary Stieber, Paul Sacca, The Epoch Times, The Blaze, Chicks on the Right

Published: 24 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Fox News article listing alleged mistakes in COVID-19 public health response mixes accurate information with unsubstantiated claims
CLAIM
Natural immunity protects better than vaccination; “the mortality risk of an un-boosted person under age 30 was zero”; cloth face masks, school closures had zero benefits for children and some harm

SOURCE: Marty Makary, Fox News

Published: 23 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Health benefits of CBD gummies are unsupported by scientific evidence; Shark Tank and other TV personalities didn’t endorse them
CLAIM
TV personalities such as Shark Tank investors, Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz endorsed CBD gummies; CBD gummies have numerous health benefits

SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook

Published: 20 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Pfizer’s confidential document shows adverse events reported following vaccination; it doesn’t demonstrate that the vaccine caused the events or is unsafe
CLAIM
Safety surveillance data in the Pfizer’s document shows harmful effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

SOURCE: Liz Wheeler, John Campbell, Social media users, Children's Health Defense, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

Published: 11 Mar 2022

VERDICT

There is no evidence of U.S.-funded bioweapon labs in Ukraine; claims to the contrary misrepresent the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
CLAIM
There are U.S.-funded bioweapon labs in countries surrounding Russia; “Pentagon Funded Bio-Weapons Labs in the Ukraine”

SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook

Published: 11 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Claim that COVID-19 deaths have been “vastly overcounted” is baseless; the evidence suggests the opposite
CLAIM
“COVID Deaths Have Been Vastly Overcounted”

SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Epoch Times

Published: 10 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Ivermectin wasn’t shown to be more effective than remdesivir, contrary to claim by John Campbell
CLAIM
“In other words, you're about 70 percent less likely to die if you take ivermectin compared to taking remdesivir”

SOURCE: John Campbell, YouTube

Published: 10 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Study by Lund University researchers didn’t show that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines change our DNA
CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccine mRNA is converted to DNA and enters the cell’s nucleus, so the vaccines can potentially change our DNA

SOURCE: Meiling Lee, Epoch Times

Published: 07 Mar 2022

VERDICT

Short identical gene sequence in SARS-CoV-2 and a gene sequence patented by Moderna can be found in other organisms; not evidence that virus was engineered
CLAIM
“scientists find virus contains tiny chunk of DNA that matches sequence patented by Moderna THREE YEARS before pandemic began”

SOURCE: Connor Boyd, Daily Mail

Published: 02 Mar 2022

VERDICT

CDC’s updated developmental milestone checklists don’t mean that standards for children’s development are lowered; they signal a change in the surveillance strategy
CLAIM
The CDC “lowered the bar” for developmental milestones instead of acknowledging the effects of COVID-19 restrictions in children

SOURCE: Jim Hoft, Social media users, Gateway Pundit, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter

Published: 25 Feb 2022

VERDICT