A widely shared social media post speculates that an unvaccinated tennis player was banned from the U.S. Open because the tournament was sponsored by Moderna. The player made international headlines late last year for his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in the Australian Open.
Recommendation: Responding to each piece of misinformation may detract from priority talking points. The U.S. requires that all noncitizens entering the country, including professional athletes, provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The player confirmed that he won’t be playing in the tournament because he cannot travel to the U.S. while unvaccinated. Fact-checking sources: