Misinformation Alerts
Knowing what misinformation is being shared can help you generate effective messaging.
These insights are based on a combination of automated media monitoring and manual review by public health data analysts. Media data are publicly available data from many sources, such as social media, broadcast television, newspapers and magazines, news websites, online video, blogs, and more. Analysts from the Public Good Projects triangulate this data along with other data from fact checking organizations and investigative sources to provide an accurate, but not exhaustive, list of currently circulating misinformation.Misinformation Alerts
Knowing what misinformation is being shared can help you generate effective messaging.
These insights are based on a combination of automated media monitoring and manual review by public health data analysts. Media data are publicly available data from many sources, such as social media, broadcast television, newspapers and magazines, news websites, online video, blogs, and more. Analysts from the Public Good Projects triangulate this data along with other data from fact checking organizations and investigative sources to provide an accurate, but not exhaustive, list of currently circulating misinformation.Alerts are categorized as high, medium, and low risk.
- High risk alerts: Narratives with widespread circulation across communities, high engagement, exponential velocity, and a high potential to impact health decisions. Are often more memorable than accurate information.
- Medium risk alerts: Narratives that are circulating in priority populations and pose some threat to health. Potential for further spread due to the tactics used or because of predicted velocity. Often highlights the questions and concerns of people.
- Low risk alerts: Narratives that are limited in reach, don’t impact your community, or lack the qualities necessary for future spread. May indicate information gaps, confusion, or concerns.
In a recent interview, the former White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator stated that thousands of people could potentially have vaccine injuries. The physician did not cite any evidence to support the claim, but some vaccine opponents are circulating it to suggest that actually millions of people have vaccine injuries.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The response to the statement underscores how a high-profile figure can validate misleading anti-vaccine talking points and how vaccine opponents can intentionally misrepresent good-faith conversations about vaccines. Debunking talking points may continue to emphasize that in nearly four years of research and global safety monitoring, no evidence of widespread COVID-19 vaccine injuries has ever emerged. Messaging may explain that even if there are thousands of injuries among the over 5.5 billion vaccinated individuals, it would make COVID-19 vaccines among the safest medical interventions in history. Fact Checking Source(s): Science Feedback, IDSA
In court documents from an ongoing lawsuit in the U.K., vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca acknowledged that the blood clotting condition thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a rare risk associated with its COVID-19 vaccine. This story has been misleadingly framed as a “bombshell admission” on social media despite TTS being a known rare risk of both the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines since 2021. AstraZeneca recently withdrew the vaccine from the global market due to a decline in demand, a decision that some vaccine opponents falsely claim is because of the TTS risk.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The widespread misleading coverage of this story increases its risk. Debunking messaging may emphasize that TTS has been publicly known as a rare vaccine risk since early 2021. Messaging may also explain that the risk is extremely low and linked only to the non-mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, resulting in some countries restricting the use of these vaccines in certain higher-risk populations. AstraZeneca requested that its vaccines be withdrawn because, “As multiple variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied.” The company withdrew the vaccine from the European market in March and suspended its use in Australia in 2022 for similar reasons. Unlike mRNA vaccines, AstraZeneca’s vaccine has never been updated for newer variants, making it outdated and ill-equipped to fight COVID-19 compared to other available vaccines. Fact Checking Source(s): Newsweek, Reuters
Based on early data, the emerging COVID-19 subvariant KP.2, a type of “FLiRT,” appears to be more infectious than the previously dominant JN.1 variant. Experts believe the variant may cause a rise in infections that will be less severe than previous surges. Although some social media users speculated that the variant may be tied to upcoming U.S. elections, most posts were simply sharing information about KP.2.
Recommendation:
Low Risk Read More +
Talking points should continue to emphasize the importance of staying up to date on vaccination to stay ahead of the expected uptick in COVID-19 infections this summer. New COVID-19 variants are the result of continued viral circulation and mutation and are unrelated to elections and other political events. Fact-checking sources: Johns Hopkins, Very Well Health
A recent New York Times article shares the stories of people who believe they have COVID-19 vaccine-related injuries and the challenges these individuals face. The article also discusses VAERS, research on COVID-19 vaccine safety, and the role the anti-vaccine movement plays in hurting the credibility of vaccine injury reports. In response, vaccine opponents and conspiracists accused the newspaper of “backtracking” about vaccine safety and baselessly claimed that vaccine injuries are underestimated. A popular news anchor revealed his own suspected vaccine injuries, setting off a wave of condemnation of the journalist who “pushed” COVID-19 vaccines and the legacy media that allegedly “concealed” vaccine injuries.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
While the Times article gives a voice to people who feel their injuries are being ignored, it also adds fuel to the fire of vaccine opponents who are using it to drastically overstate vaccine risks. Prebunking messaging may emphasize that no medical intervention has zero risks, and vaccines are no exception. The fact that an extremely small portion of vaccine recipients may have experienced serious adverse reactions does not mean that the vaccines as a whole are unsafe. Messaging may also explain that with over 270 million Americans—and 5.5 billion people worldwide—having received vaccines, even a risk that affects a fraction of a percent of recipients will affect thousands of people. However, the benefits of vaccines still outweigh the risk as COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives around the world. Fact-Checking Source(s): Vaxopedia, FactCheck.org
A social media user shared a story about having a heart attack that she claims was caused by COVID-19 vaccines. The video went viral with many vaccine opponents falsely claiming that young adults didn’t have heart attacks prior to the vaccine rollout.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Debunking messaging may emphasize that over three years of research have identified no link between COVID-19 vaccines and heart attacks. On the contrary, COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19-related heart attack or stroke. Debunking messaging may explain that heart attacks in young adults have been increasing for nearly two decades, due to rising rates of chronic health issues like diabetes and increased substance use, among other causes. Fact Checking Source(s): Science Feedback, CIDRAP
A conspiracy news site known for publishing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines accused the CDC of concealing vaccine-related deaths. The alleged “smoking gun” is the agency investigating potential vaccine-related myocarditis deaths in 2021 and 2022. The article’s author also falsely claims that the CDC stated as recently as 2023 that no deaths have been linked to COVID-19 vaccines.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Misleading claims about the health officials’ COVID-19 response are widespread and have the potential to damage trust in health authorities and vaccines. Debunking messaging may emphasize that during the period discussed in the article, the CDC had investigated and confirmed nine vaccine-related deaths and was publicly tracking confirmed vaccine-related myocarditis and pericarditis cases on its website. All of the myocarditis cases in the article occurred after the CDC made the public aware of the potential risk of heart inflammation associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Messaging may also explain that myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is extremely rare and far less likely than after COVID-19 infection. Fact Checking Source(s): The Conversation, FactCheck.org
In early April, online discourse about the ongoing bird flu (H5N1) outbreak rose sharply following the first recorded case of a human contracting the virus from a cow. Reports of the virus being detected in cow’s milk have kept the outbreak in the news and social media conversations. Much of the content is focused on information sharing and concern about the growing outbreak. However, the topic has also drawn anti-vaccine ire, including conspiracy theories about global health entities and the upcoming election, false claims that bird flu is “100 times worse than the COVID-19 pandemic,” and general opposition to bird flu vaccines and outbreak protections.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The scale of this discourse increases the risk. At the same time, the current risk of bird flu infection in humans is relatively low. Filling information gaps and answering questions from the concerned public is recommended. Prebunking messaging may explain that bird flu is a real disease that has been recognized since the 1800s. The current bird flu outbreak began in January 2022. Messaging may also emphasize that recent coverage and concern are due to the increased spread and transmission of the virus between mammals, especially cattle. H5N1 primarily affects birds, and transmission to and between mammals, including humans, is quite rare. While bird flu has a higher reported mortality rate than COVID-19, there is no evidence to support the “100 times worse” claim, which appears to have been hyperbole to emphasize the potential danger of the disease if it suddenly became a threat to humans. Health officials who have tracked bird flu for decades say that the risk to humans remains low. Emphasizing that U.S. health officials say the U.S. food supply remains safe from bird flu is recommended, as is highlighting that milk from grocery stores is still safe to drink. The FDA approved the first H5N1 vaccine in 2007, a decade after the first human outbreak in Hong Kong. Several avian flu vaccines have been licensed since, including a vaccine approved for those at high risk of exposure in 2020. The United States having a stockpile of these vaccines is an example of pandemic preparedness. Fact Checking Source(s): CDC, Politifact
Vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca acknowledged that thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS) is a rare risk associated with its COVID-19 vaccine in court documents from an ongoing lawsuit in the U.K. This story has received widespread coverage on conspiracy and tabloid sites where it is misleadingly framed as a “bombshell” admission because this is the first time the company has acknowledged the adverse reaction in court, despite TTS being a known rare risk of both the Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines since 2021.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The story is spreading rapidly across platforms and is circulating globally in multiple languages. However, it is less relevant to American audiences since Vaccines.gov currently offers COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax. If needed, debunking messaging may explain that TTS was first reported as a rare vaccine risk in early 2021 when it received widespread media coverage. The risk is extremely low and linked to AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, resulting in some countries restricting the use of these vaccines in certain higher-risk populations. Messaging may highlight that this is another example of vaccine opponents blatantly misrepresenting an instance of vaccine safety monitoring working as it should in an attempt to discredit the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Fact Checking Source(s): Yale Medicine
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resurfaced the three-year-old myth that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines had a 23 percent higher death rate than placebo in clinical trials. Kennedy insinuated that the vaccines caused those deaths and said that the vaccine was ineffective because it didn’t prevent COVID-19 deaths. A popular post sharing the clips of the interview cites surveys claiming that a quarter of Americans believe they know someone who died of a COVID-19 vaccine injury.
Recommendation:
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The high-profile source increases the risk of the false claim. Messaging may explain that this claim is based on a report finding that in a trial with over 44,000 participants, 14 all-cause deaths were reported in the placebo group and 15 deaths in the vaccine group. None of the deaths were vaccine-related, and only three (two in the placebo group and one in the vaccine group) were COVID-19-related. The same report found the vaccine to be 97 percent effective against severe COVID-19 illness. Debunking messaging may continue to emphasize that comprehensive analyses over the last three years disprove the claim that COVID-19 vaccines cause excess deaths, including a 2023 analysis of data from 178 nations that found COVID-19 vaccination coverage was linked to lower all-cause mortality rates. Fact-Checking Source(s): AFP, AP News
A discredited cardiologist falsely claims that all COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe and cause widespread serious health issues, including cardiac arrest and heart failure. The physician’s company sells a variety of “vaccine detox” products that claim will prevent the alleged harmful effects of COVID-19 vaccines.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Messaging may continue to emphasize that COVID-19 vaccines are not associated with widespread adverse reactions and there is no link between the vaccines and cardiac arrest or heart failure. Four years of research, including clinical trials, real-world studies, and global safety monitoring, have consistently shown COVID-19 vaccines to be safe and severe side effects to be exceedingly rare. Billions of people worldwide have been vaccinated for years, with no evidence of the safety concerns mentioned in the video. Fact Checking Source(s): USA Today, Infectious Diseases Society of America
Alerts are categorized as high, medium, and low risk.
- High risk alerts: Narratives with widespread circulation across communities, high engagement, exponential velocity, and a high potential to impact health decisions. Are often more memorable than accurate information.
- Medium risk alerts: Narratives that are circulating in priority populations and pose some threat to health. Potential for further spread due to the tactics used or because of predicted velocity. Often highlights the questions and concerns of people.
- Low risk alerts: Narratives that are limited in reach, don’t impact your community, or lack the qualities necessary for future spread. May indicate information gaps, confusion, or concerns.
Vaccine Misinformation Guide
Get practical tips for addressing misinformation in this new guide. Click image to download, or see highlights.