A video that has accumulated over 340,000 views since it was posted last week features a medical doctor falsely claiming that COVID-19 vaccines were designed to depopulate the planet. The doctor, who is known for promoting COVID-19 conspiracy theories, claims to be backed by dozens of lawyers with “irrefutable proof” to support his claims.
Recommendation: Continuing to emphasize key messages is recommended: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Half of the world’s population has been fully vaccinated safely, with nearly 10 billion doses administered. The protection that vaccines provide against serious illness and death far outweighs the risk of extremely rare side effects. Conspiracies that vaccines are meant to control or eliminate populations will persist, as they have existed for decades. In some cases, as with Black and brown communities in the United States or in Africa, concerns regarding medical experimentation are understandable. Unethical and immoral medical experimentation, including drug testing, has occurred in the past and requires vigilance to prevent today. Experts agree that depopulation conspiracies can only be combated by first acknowledging that serious abuses have occured and then explaining what safeguards exist now. Emphasizing that COVID-19 vaccine development is a global effort, with more people enrolled in research and clinical trials than ever before for any other type of vaccine, is recommended. Additionally, in countries that have been the site of unethical medical experimentation, emphasizing that immunization campaigns are managed by local Ministries of Health is also recommended. Fact-Checking Source(s):