Claim reviews
Sweetgum balls don’t contain Tamiflu’s active ingredient and there’s no evidence of an antiviral effect against COVID-19
CLAIM
Sweetgum balls contain the same active ingredient that Tamiflu contains, which is shikimic acid; It kills viruses including SARS-CoV-2
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, TikTok
Published: 27 Jan 2023
VERDICT
CDC data shows that COVID-19 is a major cause of excess deaths in the U.S., contrary to Exposé article ascribing deaths to COVID-19 vaccines
CLAIM
“Secret CDC Report confirms nearly 120k Youngsters 'Died Suddenly' in the USA by Oct. 2022 following roll-out of COVID Vaccines”
SOURCE: Anonymous, The Exposé
Published: 24 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Inhaling hydrogen peroxide to counter pathogens is dangerous
CLAIM
Inhaling hydrogen peroxide kills respiratory tract pathogens
SOURCE: Mike Adams, Infowars
Published: 20 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Misrepresented 2018 clip of Bill Gates trigger inaccurate claims that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for livestock could transfer to people through diet
CLAIM
“Bill Gates Vows To Pump mRNA Into Food Supply To ‘Force-Jab’ the Unvaccinated”
SOURCE: Baxter Dmitry, NewsPunch, The People’s Voice, Headline USA
Published: 18 Jan 2023
VERDICT
The Pfizer bivalent vaccines are very unlikely to increase the risk of ischemic stroke, contrary to claims on social media
CLAIM
The Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine causes strokes
SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram, Twitter
Published: 18 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Tweet by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene misinterpreted; no evidence that XBB.1.5 preferentially infects vaccinated people
CLAIM
“Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 possibly more likely to infect those who are vaccinated, officials say”
SOURCE: Julia Musto, Fox News
Published: 17 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Possible increases in cancer rates and lower life expectancy in 2021 are primarily driven by effects of COVID-19, not vaccination
CLAIM
“Cancer rates have increased since the introduction of the COVID-19 shots”, which “is driving down U.S. life expectancy”
SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Children's Health Defense
Published: 13 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Excess deaths in the U.K. remain below the pandemic peak and aren’t linked to COVID-19 vaccines
CLAIM
More people are dying now than at the peak of the pandemic; the COVID-19 vaccines are the cause of the excess deaths seen in late 2022
SOURCE: Antony Newby, Facebook
Published: 13 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase the risk of death, contrary to claim by financier Edward Dowd
CLAIM
COVID-19 vaccines are causing excess deaths around the world; sudden adult death syndrome is new
SOURCE: Edward Dowd, Aubrey Marcus, Aubrey Marcus Podcast
Published: 11 Jan 2023
VERDICT
Simulation exercises such as “Catastrophic Contagion” are a normal part of pandemic preparedness; they don’t predict future pandemics
CLAIM
The tabletop exercise “Catastrophic Contagion” means that “Bill Gates and WHO have announced when we will see the next pandemic”
SOURCE: Natali Morris, Clayton Morris, Youtube
Published: 10 Jan 2023
VERDICT