Vaccine skeptics use Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis to promote misinformation

The claim made by the president—that people who are vaccinated won’t get COVID-19—was inaccurate and was previously fact-checked. As experts noted at the time, no vaccine is 100 percent effective and there is always some risk of breakthrough infections. In June 2021, when the statement was made, the risk of infection for vaccinated people was significantly lower than for unvaccinated people. Additionally, the president clarified that the vaccines protect against serious illness and hospitalizations. Explaining that the increase in infections is due to the prevalence of Omicron subvariants that are significantly more transmissible and better able to evade immunity from vaccines is recommended. Messaging may also emphasize that the variants that were circulating last summer are different from this summer, and that as long as transmission continues, more variants will emerge. Finally, emphasizing that recent studies indicate that COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against severe illness and death from Omicron subvariants is recommended.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• Newsweek
• Washington Post