A tech CEO posted an image that downplays the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and the seriousness of COVID-19. The post has received hundreds of thousands of engagements.
The high-profile source and level of engagement increase the misinformation’s risk. Debunking messaging may emphasize that COVID-19 is still a serious disease that causes thousands of Americans to be hospitalized each week and has killed over 51,000 Americans since the beginning of the year. Messaging may also emphasize that staying up to date on vaccines protects against severe illness and death, and research suggests that vaccinated people have a lower risk of developing long COVID.
Fact-checking Source(s):
NIH, Association of American Medical Colleges, Johns Hopkins
