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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

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

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 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

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

The number of COVID-19 cases reported is based on a highly specific diagnostic test for COVID-19; no confusion with flu or common cold is possible
CLAIM
“It's NOT a SECOND WAVE of COVID-19 coming soon. It's the NORMAL COLD / FLU SEASON”

SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook

Published: 18 Sep 2020

VERDICT

False claim shared by President Trump that only 6% of CDC-reported deaths are from COVID-19 is based on flawed reasoning
CLAIM
only 6% of all the 153,504 deaths recorded actually died from Covid, the rest had other serious illnesses

SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook

Published: 31 Aug 2020

VERDICT

A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would be useful even if the survival rate from COVID-19 is high
CLAIM
With the survival rate of COVID-19 close to 100% without a vaccine, what exactly will the purpose of the new vaccine be?

SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook

Published: 28 Aug 2020

VERDICT

Current COVID-19 mortality rate does not predict the future probability of dying from the disease
CLAIM
“Chance of NOT dying from Covid-19: 99.96%”

SOURCE: Facebook User, Facebook

Published: 21 Aug 2020

VERDICT

Sweden’s COVID-19 mortality is higher than in most European countries; no evidence whether or how the absence of lockdown impacted this outcome
CLAIM
“Sweden COVID-19 Death Rate Lower Than Spain, Italy and U.K., Despite Never Having Lockdown”

SOURCE: Soo Kim, Newsweek

Published: 16 Aug 2020

VERDICT