Search Results for coronavirus

Scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase the risk of heart attacks, contrary to Russell Brand video

Multiple scientific studies have documented the detrimental effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the heart, suggesting that COVID-19 is a significant contributor to the increase in heart attacks among young people during the pandemic, although other factors, such as a delay in care due to lockdowns and healthcare disruption, could also have contributed to it. Studies show that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh their risks, and that vaccinated people don’t have a greater risk of heart attack compared to unvaccinated people.

Vaccination recruits both the innate and adaptive immune system; COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children

Vaccination harnesses the capabilities of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Clinical trials and post-marketing studies showed that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children. Although COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are associated with rare cases of myocarditis, post-vaccine myocarditis has a much better prognosis compared to COVID-19-associated myocarditis. The risk of myocarditis and future cardiovascular complications are higher with COVID-19. Therefore, COVID-19 vaccines’ benefits outweigh their possible risks even for children.

No scientific evidence for the claim that nattokinase can treat long COVID or “detox” COVID-19 vaccines

Nattokinase is an enzyme that was first isolated from natto, a traditional Japanese dish made of fermented soybeans. Research so far has shown that it can break apart proteins involved in blood clotting, which enables it to dissolve blood clots. While one study by Tanikawa et al. found that nattokinase could break down spike protein, the study was unrelated to long COVID and the experiments were performed in cells in the lab. Therefore, the results may not reflect what happens in the human body and also provide no information about its effects on long COVID.

Social media clips revive false claims by David Icke linking 5G and COVID-19

Wireless communications transfer data from one point to another using electromagnetic waves. When traveling through the air, these waves interact with particles and substances, such as oxygen, that can absorb part of their energy. This phenomenon causes the electromagnetic signal to lose strength with distance but doesn’t change the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere nor makes it unavailable to the body. Electromagnetic waves can also interact with biological tissues, but current exposure hasn’t been associated with health problems in people.

Viral memes listing COVID-19 topics about which authorities were allegedly “wrong” rehash debunked misinformation

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an unprecedented spread of misinformation, occasionally exacerbated by mixed messages from public health authorities. However, changing recommendations reflect the fact that it takes time to conduct research, particularly amid a global health crisis with a novel pathogen, and authorities changed course as our scientific understanding of COVID-19 evolved over time.

Infection-induced immunity is more unpredictable and poses a higher risk than vaccine-induced immunity

Most people who recover from COVID-19 develop some level of protective immunity. However, this level varies greatly from person to person and might be insufficient in some cases to protect the person against the disease. COVID-19 vaccines tend to generate a more consistent immune response than infection and are also a much safer way of acquiring immunity because they don’t expose the person to the risks of the disease. Vaccination can also benefit COVID-19 survivors by enhancing the protection resulting from infection.

Misinformation superspreaders are thriving on Musk-owned Twitter

Key results 1. A study of 490 “misinformation superspreaders” (here defined as accounts that have repeatedly published popular tweets linking to known misinformation) shows that their collective popularity has significantly grown (on average, +42% interactions per tweet) since Elon Musk took effective control of the platform on 27 October 2022. Accounts from established and credible … Continued

Multiple studies show that face masks reduce the spread of COVID-19; a Cochrane review doesn’t demonstrate otherwise

Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard when assessing the effectiveness of an intervention. However, this type of study can vary greatly in quality, particularly in complex interventions such as face masks, affecting the reliability of the results. In this context, many scientists consider that randomized controlled trials should be seen as a part of a more broader evidence including other study designs. When taking those studies into account, evidence suggests that widespread mask usage can reduce community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially when combined with other interventions like frequent handwashing and physical distancing.