An organization known for opposing vaccines published an article offering proof of a well-established fact that has been public knowledge for three years: The Department of Defense, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, helped fund the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The organization claims that the contract between the DoD and Moderna was a “military-backed countermeasure.”
Recommendation: The article has been circulated by an anti-vaccine figure with a large following, hence the elevated risk. Emphasizing that it has been public knowledge since the launch of Operation Warp Speed in May 2020 that the initiative received funding and support from the Defense Department is recommended. The article reveals nothing that was not already known to the public or any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the DoD or Moderna. Prebunking messaging may explain that the U.S. military has a long history of supporting vaccine development, testing, and mandates, dating back to the 1776 smallpox inoculation mandate ordered by General George Washington. Fact Checking Source(s): Department of Defense, PolitiFact