Misinformation Alerts

Emphasizing how the study is being misrepresented is recommended. The study found a modest increase in risk for pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs) in older adults following vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. No other health conditions showed a significant increase in risk, and no risks increased following Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccination. The study did not find that the Pfizer vaccine caused the increased risk. Instead, it concluded that further study is needed to determine if there is a potential link between the vaccine and pulmonary embolism. Messaging may explain that many large studies have found no link between mRNA vaccines and blood clots and that over 95 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have safely received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• The BMJ, Reuters

The high profile of these sources of misinformation elevates their risk. Both of the figures have gained popularity and large platforms by using their scientific and medical training to lend credibility to the misinformation that they promote. Misinformation about COVID-19 will persist online, but steps may be taken to reduce the impact. Continuing to report misinformation on other platforms is recommended, as is exercising caution when consuming and sharing health information on Twitter. Following trusted accounts and double-checking that verified accounts are real and reputable sources of information are also recommended. Consider countering misinformation on the safety and efficacy of vaccines by emphasizing the amount of time and research that goes into the development process and that more than 70 percent of the world’s population has safely received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• Health Feedback - Dr. Robert Malone, Health Feedback - Dr. Peter McCullough

The high level of international media attention that the case has received increases its risk. Any case involving the health or life of an infant is going to evoke strong emotional responses. Responding with empathy and acknowledging the concerns of parents is recommended, as is explaining how vaccines and medical procedures help protect both children and their families. Explaining that the Red Cross says that blood and plasma from vaccinated donors are perfectly safe is recommended. Messaging may explain that vaccine components are not transferred through blood and that there is no evidence that these antibodies would have any negative effect on donation recipients.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• Reuters, American Red Cross

Consider countering this misinformation by explaining that the recommendations about COVID-19 mitigations and vaccinations are backed by scientific evidence and real-world data showing the effectiveness of vaccines and masks. On each of the issues raised in the article, the AAP is guided by the expertise of its membership and consensus from the national and international medical communities, backed by decades of research.

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• What to Expect, Kids Health

Emphasizing that this claim and others made by the website are based on intentionally misrepresenting raw, unverified, or decontextualized data is recommended. U.K. data does show that children who are vaccinated are more likely to die from all causes than children who are unvaccinated. This is because the children who are most likely to be vaccinated, especially early in the vaccine roll-out, are children who are already at a much higher risk of death than other children: children who are immunocompromised, children with cancer, and children with serious heart and respiratory conditions. Presenting these numbers without that context falsely implies that the children are dying from vaccine injuries.

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• Lead Stories, PolitiFact