A conspiracy news site known for publishing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines accused the CDC of concealing vaccine-related deaths. The alleged “smoking gun” is the agency investigating potential vaccine-related myocarditis deaths in 2021 and 2022. The article’s author also falsely claims that the CDC stated as recently as 2023 that no deaths have been linked to COVID-19 vaccines.
Misleading claims about the health officials’ COVID-19 response are widespread and have the potential to damage trust in health authorities and vaccines. Debunking messaging may emphasize that during the period discussed in the article, the CDC had investigated and confirmed nine vaccine-related deaths and was publicly tracking confirmed vaccine-related myocarditis and pericarditis cases on its website. All of the myocarditis cases in the article occurred after the CDC made the public aware of the potential risk of heart inflammation associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Messaging may also explain that myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is extremely rare and far less likely than after COVID-19 infection.
