A story is circulating online about a woman who alleges that her severe bone pain and decay were caused by the COVID-19 vaccine she received six months before her symptoms emerged. One of her doctors reportedly also suggested that the condition may be linked to a COVID-19 infection she had two months before she was vaccinated. After a British tabloid published the story, several high-profile anti-vaccine social media accounts began circulating it online, claiming that it “proves” COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe. The article and several posts sharing it attempted to link the woman’s condition to the recent preprint about post-COVID vaccination syndrome, even though her symptoms vary drastically from those identified in the study.
Recommendation
Anecdotes about health conditions that arise after vaccination are particularly effective at causing hesitancy—even when there’s no evidence that vaccination caused the condition. Messaging may explain that while there is no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to bone disease, research shows that COVID-19 infections can lead to inflammation that causes chronic bone pain and loss. Emphasizing key talking points is recommended: Over four years of research—and billions of people vaccinated safely worldwide—shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Fact-checking sources: Science Feedback
