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: We recommend directly addressing and debunking the misinformation
- Medium risk alerts: We recommend monitoring the situation but not actively engaging.
- Low risk alerts: Provided for informational purposes. We do not recommend additional action at the moment.
In an interview, a physician who promotes misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines claims he has seen a rise in pregnancy complications in vaccinated women. The anecdote is unsupported by data. Several studies have shown that there is no link between COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy complications.
Recommendation: There is understandable concern over whether COVID-19 vaccines could impact a pregnancy. Recent studies, however, show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for both pregnant people and anyone trying to become pregnant in the future. Informational materials may emphasize that COVID-19 poses a risk to pregnant people; people who are infected during pregnancy are at increased risk for severe illness, hospitalization, preterm birth, stillbirth, and other pregnancy complications. Explaining that vaccination is suggested for people who are pregnant and breastfeeding is recommended. Fact-Checking Source(s): Direct Response Read More +
A social media post with nearly 1,000 engagements, including 350 comments, falsely claims that a keto (low-carbohydrate, high-fat) diet can remove spike proteins that the COVID-19 vaccine prompts cells to produce. This claim seems to be based on a misconception that proteins are simply nutrients, rather than vital molecules that carry out important biological functions. The human body has tens of thousands of naturally occurring proteins that support every bodily function. No diet removes these proteins or the spike protein from the body.
Recommendation: Emphasizing that the spike protein produced after vaccination is harmless and that no diet can remove it from the body is recommended. Messaging may also explain that some COVID-19 vaccines give cells instructions to produce a spike protein that is similar to the spike protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter the cell. Without the rest of the virus, the spike protein is harmless and trains the immune system to recognize and fight the real virus. The mRNA that produces vaccine spike proteins breaks down and leaves the body within a few days of vaccination. Fact Checking Source(s): Passive Response Read More +
A social media post has resurfaced the false claim that the American Red Cross does not accept blood donations from people who are vaccinated. The American Red Cross website clearly states that people vaccinated against COVID-19 are welcome to donate blood, platelets, and plasma.
Recommendation: Responding to each piece of misinformation may detract from priority talking points. Fact-checking sources: Ignore Read More +
A recent study analyzing severe heart inflammation following COVID-19 vaccination in four Nordic countries found that, while still rare, the risk was increased in young men. Widely shared social media posts have misrepresented the study’s findings to claim that the rare risk is actually widespread. The study explicitly notes that myocarditis after vaccination is rare “even among young males,” and concludes that the risk should continue to be evaluated. The study also found that COVID-19 infection increased the risk of heart inflammation, particularly among adults over age 40.
Recommendation: A small number of cases of heart inflammation in young adults following COVID-19 vaccination has caused understandable concern and information seeking. Organizations are recommended to address these concerns, and to update informational and educational materials accordingly if they have not done so already. Explaining that health authorities are monitoring reports of myocarditis and pericarditis, that cases are rare, and that the benefits of the vaccine greatly outweigh the risks is recommended. Fact Checking Source(s): Passive Response Read More +
During a speech about equity and racial justice, the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary mistakenly said that COVID-19 vaccines are killing people of color at twice the rate of white people. The comment has been shared thousands of times on social media and right-wing news sites, despite the White House clarifying that the secretary misspoke. The HHS and Biden administration have been enthusiastic proponents of COVID-19 vaccination and equitable access to vaccines for racial minorities who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The comment was likely meant to emphasize that COVID-19—not the vaccines—has killed Black, Latino, and American Indian people at more than twice the rate of white people.
Recommendation: The high-profile nature of these comments elevates the risk of this misinformation. Emphasizing that serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare, and that the vaccines have been rigorously tested for safety, is recommended. Fact-Checking Source(s): Direct Response Read More +
In an interview with an entrepreneur who is well known for promoting vaccine misinformation, an airline pilot claimed that he was informed by a cardiologist that 30 percent of vaccinated pilots would fail flight health screenings due to vaccine injuries. The claim has been promoted on social media and conservative news sites for the past week. Pilots undergo annual or biannual health screenings to evaluate their ability to fly, and there is no evidence that vaccinated pilots have experienced an increase in health issues affecting their fitness. One of the purportedly vaccine-injured pilots has claimed that a heart attack that occurred more than six months after he was vaccinated was caused by the vaccine. Again, no evidence was provided to support this claim.
Recommendation: Messaging may emphasize the amount of time and research that goes into the vaccine development process. In addition, explaining that stories about vaccine side effects are often drawn from unverified reports that have not yet been investigated by health officials is recommended, as is continuing to explain what mild side effects people can expect after vaccination. Messaging may also explain that serious complications from COVID-19 vaccines are extremely rare and that almost all occur shortly after vaccination, not months later. Fact Checking Source(s): Passive Response Read More +
An author who was removed from social media platforms for promoting vaccine misinformation has falsely claimed that an American Medical Association document says that people are receiving varying dosages of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine based on the vaccine "batch." In fact, the document lists the vaccines for different age groups and one formulation that contains a stabilizing ingredient.
Recommendation: Misinformation about the safety, ingredients, and dosing of COVID-19 vaccines continues to spread. Counter it by emphasizing the amount of time and research that goes into the vaccine development process and the transparency of vaccine ingredients. Materials shared with the public may also include the list of vaccine ingredients, which has been publicly available for more than a year, and the correct dosages for all age groups. Fact Checking Source(s): Passive Response Read More +
An article on a U.K.-based conspiracy news site uses VAERS data to claim that 4,000 fetal or newborn deaths are linked to COVID-19 vaccines. It’s important to remember that VAERS reports are unverified and cannot be determined to be caused by a specific vaccine. The number of VAERS reports of fetal or newborn deaths that occurred at some point after vaccination is not the accurate number of vaccine-related deaths. An analysis of VAERS reports found under 1,800 reports of fetal or newborn death after COVID-19 vaccination but the causes of the deaths or even whether the death actually occurred cannot be determined from VAERS data.
Recommendation: VAERS or other vaccine safety monitoring systems are often used incorrectly, sometimes deliberately in order to spread misinformation and disinformation. VAERS and similar systems allow anyone to submit reports of vaccine injury or side effects; these claims do not have to be verified. After claims are made, government health experts perform investigations to determine whether reported injuries or side effects were due to vaccines. This is why only official government reports and peer-reviewed scientific studies should be trusted. Emphasizing that these reporting systems contain unverified reports while directing to actual evidence is recommended, as is explaining that vaccines are safe for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Fact-Checking Source(s): Direct Response Read More +
After a vaccinated congressperson tested positive for COVID-19, he noted that being vaccinated and boosted made him less likely to become seriously ill. In response, a conservative commentator responded that many unvaccinated people have mild COVID-19 infections, so that isn’t a reason to get vaccinated. Numerous studies have demonstrated that vaccinated people are at a significantly lower risk of becoming seriously ill, and people with boosters have an even lower risk. Vaccines are life-saving particularly for people over age 65, like the congressman, and those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or have conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.
Recommendation: The high-profile source of this misinformation elevates its risk. Emphasizing that COVID-19 vaccines remain the best form of protection against the virus and that unvaccinated people are at a higher risk from the virus is recommended. Emphasizing that booster doses can increase protection against COVID-19 for those already vaccinated is also recommended. In addition, explaining that vaccination is more effective than treatment—because it’s impossible to predict how severe a COVID-19 infection will be for an unvaccinated individual—is also recommended. Fact-Checking Source(s): Direct Response Read More +
A social media post that received over 250 engagements before being flagged as misinformation falsely claims that COVID-19 vaccines contain “HIV lipid wrappers.” COVID-19 vaccines use fat molecules called lipids to enclose and protect mRNA as it is being delivered to cells. The lipids are simply delivery vehicles for the vaccine and don’t contain HIV, SARS-CoV-2, or any other virus.
Recommendation: Because this misinformation is now widespread, consider emphasizing that there is no link between COVID-19 and HIV or AIDS in materials that debunk myths, FAQs, and other related areas. Medical experts agree that the COVID-19 vaccines do not cause or make people more susceptible to HIV or AIDS and that the shots don’t weaken the immune system. They strengthen it. Updating materials to debunk claims about HIV and the COVID-19 vaccines is recommended, as is monitoring local conversations about so-called “VAIDS.” Fact Checking Source(s): Passive Response Read More +
Alerts are categorized as high, medium, and low risk.
- High risk alerts: We recommend directly addressing and debunking the misinformation
- Medium risk alerts: We recommend monitoring the situation but not actively engaging.
- Low risk alerts: Provided for informational purposes. We do not recommend additional action at the moment.
Vaccine Misinformation Guide
Get practical tips for addressing misinformation in this new guide. Click image to download, or see highlights.