The video has been widely circulated across multiple social media platforms, increasing its risk. Emphasizing that the claims in the video are based on misrepresentations of COVID-19 data is recommended. This data has consistently shown that vaccinated people are at a lower risk than unvaccinated people of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 and that boosters provide additional protection. Messaging may explain that COVID-19 vaccines were rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness. The vaccines are not and have never been used as a treatment for strep A infections.

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• Full Fact

Anti-vaccine advocates are using a young football player’s rare injury that is unrelated to vaccines as an opportunity to promote vaccine misinformation and dissuade people from getting COVID-19 vaccines. Emphasizing that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines had anything to do with the player’s injury is recommended, as is explaining that injuries of this kind, while rare, were not unheard of in young athletes for many years before COVID-19 vaccines were developed. Around two-thirds of the world’s population has been safely vaccinated against COVID-19, including hundreds of millions of young adults.

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• AP, Full Fact

The athlete’s high profile and the heavy news coverage of his injury raise the risk of this misinformation. There is no evidence of any connection between the incident and the player’s vaccination—and many social media users also spoke out against those using the player’s health crisis to make anti-vaccine comments. People who spread anti-vaccine messaging frequently use the health issues faced by public figures to try to make claims about vaccination being dangerous. It is important to monitor any potential adverse effects of vaccines, and systems are in place to do so. But it’s up to medical professionals to determine if any adverse events have occurred, and there is no evidence connecting the athlete’s medical condition to vaccines. Exposing the disinformation strategies of vaccine opponents and emphasizing key messages is recommended: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The risk of heart complications from COVID-19 infection is far higher than the small risk following vaccination.

More Information:

What happened to Damar Hamlin?
After tackling an opposing player, Hamlin stood up and then collapsed. Medical professionals administered CPR on the field to revive his heartbeat, and he was then taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he continues to receive treatment.

What caused the cardiac arrest?
Hamlin’s doctors have not yet determined the cause, but some medical professionals have said the incident was consistent with Commotio Cordis, a rare, serious medical condition that occurs when a person is hit in the chest and that impact triggers a dramatic change in the rhythm of their heart.

Was Hamlin’s cardiac arrest caused by a COVID-19 vaccine?
There is no evidence that Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was in any way related to a COVID vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine side effects have been intensively evaluated, and there is no evidence that cardiac arrest is associated with vaccine administration in the millions of people who have received it.

Do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of any heart-related problems?
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are among the most widely and safely administered and monitored vaccines in the history of vaccine use. They are associated with a very small risk of heart inflammation, called myocarditis. Myocarditis has many different causes and can lead to cardiac arrest in some instances. A study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that the risk of developing myocarditis following a COVID-19 vaccine booster is low, and when it does occur, cases are typically mild. In fact, extensive research shows that the COVID-19 virus poses a higher risk for myocarditis than vaccines.

Do COVID-19 vaccines increase the likelihood of an athlete dying suddenly?
No. Despite false claims that COVID-19 vaccines have increased Sudden Athlete Death Syndrome (SADS), scientific reviews, medical experts, and sports cardiologists have found no association between sudden death in athletes and vaccines.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• FactCheck.org, AP

Additional Articles:

• “The Inflated Risk of Vaccine-Induced Cardiac Arrest,” The Atlantic, Jan. 4, 2023
• “NFL Player Damar Hamlin’s Cardiac Arrest Triggers Unfounded Social Media Claims,” factcheck.org, Jan. 3, 2023
• “Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination Outweigh the Rare Risk of Myocarditis, Even in Young Males,”org, March 1, 2022; updated April 5, 2022
• “Article Makes Unfounded Claims Linking Athletes’ Injuries, Deaths to Vaccines,” factcheck.org, Dec. 21, 2021

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