Vaccine opponents seize on Dominican basketball player’s death

Vaccine opponents frequently use high-profile deaths to advance anti-vaccine talking points. Social media posts about alleged vaccine-related deaths and injuries often have a large reach and can increase vaccine hesitancy. Prebunking messaging may emphasize that serious adverse reactions to vaccination are extremely rare. At this time, it’s unclear if the athlete’s death was vaccine-related. The death of any person is tragic, and it’s up to health and legal authorities to determine whether an adverse side effect occurred after vaccination. If presented with these narratives, responding with transparency and sympathy towards those who report adverse reactions is recommended, as is emphasizing that COVID-19 has killed millions and that vaccines are the best protection against the disease.

Fact Checking Source(s): Newsweek, Reuters, American Heart Association