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Pablo Rougerie

Science Editor

Pablo obtained his PhD in Immunology from the University Paris - Descartes (France). He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York, U.S.) and at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). His research focused on different topics in cell biology, including the regulation of T lymphocyte activation, the mechanics of cell deformation, and the use of biomaterials of specific geometry to guide the growth of biological tissues.

The Science Feedback team

CLAIM REVIEWS

Asymptomatic and presymptomatic people can spread COVID-19
CLAIM
asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 never occurs

SOURCE: Jeffrey A. Tucker, American Institute for Economic Research, The Last Refuge

Published: 04 Jan 2021

VERDICT

The American Medical Association does not reject nor support hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, nor did it change its position on the use matter
CLAIM
The AMA “reversed course”, now “giving the green light to doctors prescribing HCQ to their COVID patients.”

SOURCE: Brian C. Joondeph, American Thinker

Published: 22 Dec 2020

VERDICT

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel validated Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine; its authorization for emergency use should ensue
CLAIM
“FDA panel backs Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine"

SOURCE: CNET editors, CNET

Published: 18 Dec 2020

VERDICT

The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is comprised of ingredients standard in many vaccines, including mRNA, lipids, sucrose, and salts
CLAIM
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts.

SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook

Published: 14 Dec 2020

VERDICT

There is no risk of infertility from COVID-19 vaccines due to cross reactivity with placenta proteins, as SARS-CoV-2 and placenta proteins are different
CLAIM
“Covid Vaccine is Female Sterilization”; SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may trigger an immune response against the placenta.

SOURCE: Anonymous, Health and Money News

Published: 10 Dec 2020

VERDICT

Pfizer is part of Operation Warp Speed, a partnership to produce and distribute a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, but it developed a vaccine without direct funding from the partnership
CLAIM
Pfizer is part of Operation Warp Speed; “Thanks to the public-private partnership forged by President, [Pfizer] announced its Coronavirus Vaccine trial is EFFECTIVE, preventing infection in 90% of its volunteers”

SOURCE: David Marcus, Mike Pence, The Federalist

Published: 12 Nov 2020

VERDICT

There is no evidence supporting the claim that preexisting T cell immunity reduces COVID-19 mortality and infection rate; such cross-reactive T cells predate the pandemic
CLAIM
“the reason why the death rate is so low is because our body has another way to create immunity that goes beyond just the antibodies, it’s called the memory T cells”

SOURCE: Eric Berg, YouTube

Published: 06 Nov 2020

VERDICT

The percentage of excess deaths in the U.S. not directly caused by COVID-19 ranges from 14% to 33%; it remains unclear how lockdowns influenced excess mortality
CLAIM
“a third of excess deaths in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic could not be directly attributed to the coronavirus”; “One reason for the high amount of excess deaths not attributable to COVID-19 has been disruptions in health services caused by lockdowns.”

SOURCE: Michael Lee, Washington Examiner

Published: 29 Oct 2020

VERDICT

The group World Doctors Alliance spreads misinformation about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus, and the reliability of diagnostic tests
CLAIM
COVID-19 is a type of flu and is not a pandemic; PCR tests are up to 94% false positive; only 98 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in Ireland.

SOURCE: World Doctors Alliance, Doctors For Truth, Facebook, YouTube

Published: 22 Oct 2020

VERDICT

Mortality in the U.S. was more than 280,000 higher during the first eight months of 2020 than any of the previous five years over the same period
CLAIM
“U.S. mortalities this year are not materially different from the previous 5 years”

SOURCE: Facebook user, Facebook

Published: 08 Oct 2020

VERDICT