In a new comedy special, a popular podcast host mocked COVID-19 vaccines and minimized the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversations about the comedy special quickly spread across social media platforms. The host has previously promoted vaccine conspiracy theories and the disproven COVID-19 treatment ivermectin.
High-profile vaccine skeptics often use anecdotes, jokes, and unsubstantiated claims to sow doubt about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Debunking messaging may emphasize that years of scientific research and vaccine safety monitoring have shown that vaccine opponents’ claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness are myths and conspiracy theories. Talking points may highlight that COVID-19 has killed over a million Americans, hospitalized millions more, and caused long COVID in approximately 17 million American adults. Globally, over 70 percent of the world’s population—over 5.6 billion people—safely received COVID-19 vaccines, which have saved millions of lives.
