Claim reviews
Mild side effects from flu shots are common; very serious adverse effects are very rare
CLAIM
Flu shots lead to severe or life-threatening conditions; flu shots are unsafe
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 05 Oct 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines aren’t expected to be available for the public in several weeks, contrary to viral claim on social media
CLAIM
“The Government has released their initial plans to force a vaccine on everyone”; “Three potential vaccines are currently in Stage 3 trials in the United States and could be ready in weeks”
SOURCE: Mac Slavo, SHTFplan, Before it’s news
Published: 04 Oct 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 is at least an order of magnitude more deadly than seasonal flu, according to current estimates
CLAIM
“COVID-19 [is] less deadly than [seasonal] flu”
SOURCE: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Facebook
Published: 01 Oct 2020
VERDICT
The total number of COVID-19 deaths thus far exceeds the number of abortions over two days worldwide
CLAIM
“More babies will die by abortion in two days than all the coronavirus deaths thus far”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 30 Sep 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 has caused many deaths due to high virus transmission, despite its relatively small infection fatality ratio
CLAIM
COVID-19 mortality rates are very low, therefore COVID-19 is not an important public health concern; if you are 70+ years old, you have a 0.054% chance of dying from COVID-19
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook, Fox News
Published: 29 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Using face masks does not increase the risk of skin or oral infections
CLAIM
Masks are dirty and cause bacterial overgrowth, skin infections, and “mask mouth, [which is] a new medical condition caused by wearing masks all day”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 28 Sep 2020
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines do not modify the human genome and do not involve hydrogels; hydrogels are not internet-connecting devices
CLAIM
Hydrogels are part of the genome-modifying COVID-19 mRNA vaccines' delivery system; hydrogels will connect you to the internet
SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook
Published: 25 Sep 2020
VERDICT
The genetic features of the virus causing COVID-19 are compatible with natural evolution, and therefore, don’t prove that the virus was constructed
CLAIM
“[G]enetic evidence within the Spike gene of SARS-Cov-2 genome […] does exist and suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 genome should be a product of genetic manipulation”; “The characteristics and pathogenic effects of SARS-CoV-2 are unprecedented”
SOURCE: Li-Meng Yan, Zenodo
Published: 22 Sep 2020
VERDICT
Tuberculosis, the flu, and COVID-19 differ in disease prevalence and burden, requiring different public health responses
CLAIM
“Why don’t we wear masks for [tuberculosis]? Because CNN hasn’t instructed you to.”
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 21 Sep 2020
VERDICT
No vaccine contains strains of both the flu and the virus that causes COVID-19; COVID-19 is not the flu
CLAIM
The U.S. CDC encourages the use of a “[COVID-19] flu shot” on children.
SOURCE: Facebook user, Facebook
Published: 20 Sep 2020
VERDICT