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.
Articles and social media posts are claiming that hundreds of athletes have collapsed or died after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. The number varies from post to post, but a common claim seems to be that around 1,600 athletes have been impacted. The claim is based on an article that uses unverified “data” on athlete deaths and compares these unsourced numbers to a 2006 peer-reviewed study of sudden deaths in athletes under the age of 35.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Consider countering misinformation by explaining that there is no evidence that a single death on the list is related to COVID-19 vaccines and that the “data” in the list is unreliable and unverified. The vaccination status of most of the people on the list is unknown. The list includes people who have known causes of death that are unrelated to vaccines, such as cancer, car accidents, suicide, and drug overdoses. Aside from the cases on the list being unverified and unrelated to the vaccine, the list also compares vastly different sets of data, since the original study was limited to athletes under the age of 35 who died of sudden cardiac arrest. By contrast, the list includes hundreds of people who didn’t die or even suffer serious injuries. Athletes who were well over the age of 35 are on the list, including some in their 60 and 70s who hadn’t participated in sports for decades. For example, the legendary Brazilian soccer player Pele, who died of colon cancer at age 82, is on the list. The article also fails to take into account when vaccines became available in the countries where the people on the list live. In several cases, people are included on the list who would not have been eligible to receive vaccines at the time of their injury or death. Emphasizing that there are mechanisms in place to monitor vaccine safety, that adverse events after vaccination are extremely rare, and that there is no evidence to support this misinformation is recommended. Fact Checking Source(s):
After a football player went into cardiac arrest during a Monday night football game, social media users and several newsletter writers spread false claims that the player’s cardiac arrest was due to COVID-19 vaccines. Others speculated without evidence that while the player’s injury could have had another cause, perhaps vaccination made it worse.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
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? What caused the cardiac arrest? Was Hamlin’s cardiac arrest caused by a COVID-19 vaccine? Do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of any heart-related problems? Do COVID-19 vaccines increase the likelihood of an athlete dying suddenly? Fact-Checking Source(s): Additional Articles:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A website that publishes hoax news stories claimed that the government of Japan is investigating millions of deaths supposedly caused by COVID-19 vaccines. The post has been widely shared, including by several high-profile anti-vaccine figures.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
The high engagement on the posts and the shares by high-profile figures increase the risk of this misinformation. Emphasizing that there is no evidence of any investigation into COVID-19 vaccines by the Japanese government is recommended, as is explaining that there isn’t any evidence of widespread deaths caused by the vaccines in Japan or any country. Billions of people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 worldwide, and the vaccines are safe. Fact-Checking Source(s):
A study of COVID-19 vaccine safety in older adults has been widely circulated and misrepresented by vaccine opponents. The study used FDA, Medicare, and Medicaid data for people ages 65 and up to flag early warning signals for increased risks of certain health conditions following COVID-19 vaccination. The study identified four signals that marginally increased following vaccination in this population. However, only one of the four conditions, pulmonary embolism, showed increased risk after accounting for the conditions’ baseline rates and additional factors that contribute to risks, such as age and nursing home residency. Multiple large English and Spanish accounts have falsely proclaimed that the study found that COVID-19 vaccines cause blood clots.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
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):
Several popular social media accounts are promoting the idea that mask mandates and other COVID-19 protections are responsible for the "tripledemic," the current wave of flu, COVID-19, and RSV infections that are overwhelming U.S. hospitals. One post claims that wearing masks weakened children’s immune systems by preventing exposure to germs, making them more susceptible to infections. This claim directly contradicts the anti-mask belief that masks are ineffective at preventing disease transmission. Another widely shared post says that COVID-19 restrictions have “dampened immune systems.”
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Consider countering this misinformation by explaining that there is no scientific basis for the claim that masks or other COVID-19 protections weaken immune systems. Emphasizing that pediatricians agree that masks are perfectly safe for children over the age of 2 and research shows that masks reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools is recommended. The “tripledemic” is the result of multiple highly transmissible COVID-19 subvariants, a particularly bad and early flu season, and increased indoor socialization without COVID-19 mitigations like mask mandates and social distancing. Masks were not the cause of the tripledemic, but they are an effective way to help protect against the respiratory diseases circulating this winter. Fact Checking Source(s):
Two prominent anti-vaccine figures had their social media accounts reinstated last week. The accounts were suspended earlier this year for repeated violations of the platform’s COVID-19 misinformation policy, which is no longer being enforced. Upon returning to the platform, both people immediately began promoting misinformation about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine opponents and COVID-19 skeptics celebrated the return of the figures as a sign that public opinion is shifting in their favor.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
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):
Less than a week after a New Zealand baby whose parents attempted to refuse vaccinated blood received life-saving surgery, a mother in the U.S. is claiming that her one-month-old baby died because of a blood transfusion from COVID-19-vaccinated donors. The story has been picked up by right-wing and anti-vaccine sites despite the lack of evidence to support it. According to the baby’s mother, he had surgery for a throat condition in February, developed a blood clot shortly after, and died two weeks later. He received a blood transfusion during surgery, and although there is no way to know the vaccination status of blood donors, the parents and anti-vaccine advocates have insisted that vaccinated blood killed the baby.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Any death is a tragedy, but there is no evidence that the baby’s death was in any way related to the vaccination status of the blood donors. The baby's cause of death was a blood clot, which is a serious risk after any major surgery. Messaging may explain that vaccine components are not transferred through blood and that there is no evidence that blood donations from vaccinated individuals will have any negative effect on donation recipients. Blood donations are not separated by vaccination status, so there is no way to know if the blood the baby received was from people who were vaccinated, unvaccinated, or both. Explaining that the Red Cross says that blood and plasma from vaccinated donors are perfectly safe is recommended. Fact Checking Source(s):
A case in New Zealand underscores the real-world impact of anti-vaccine misinformation. The parents of a 6-month-old with a congenital heart defect refused life-saving surgery for the baby unless they could ensure that only blood from unvaccinated people was used. Doctors insisted that the demand was impractical because the baby would likely need plasma that is pooled from multiple donors and New Zealand blood banks don’t screen donations by vaccination status. A judge ordered that the baby be temporarily placed in the custody of the hospital. The baby’s surgery was completed on Friday, and he is reportedly doing well and recovering with his parents in the hospital. The case has ignited anti-vaccine groups worldwide who argue that parents should have the final say in their child’s health—even at the expense of the child’s life.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
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):
A popular right-wing figure with millions of social media followers continued promotion of the debunked documentary that falsely claims COVID-19 vaccines have caused mass death and are part of a depopulation plan. The commentator claimed that vaccines are a “crime against humanity."
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The high-profile source of this misinformation elevates its risk. Emphasizing the misrepresentations and hoaxes included in the documentary is recommended, as is explaining that the film blames any sudden or unexplained death on COVID-19 vaccines, without any evidence, knowledge of other health conditions, or even confirmation of vaccination status. Consider combating misinformation by explaining that baselessly claiming that deaths are related to vaccines, even when there is evidence to the contrary, is a common tactic of vaccine opponents. Many of the people featured in the film didn’t die at all; they fainted, collapsed from exhaustion, or experienced seizures. Messaging may emphasize that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of sudden death and that the vaccines have been safely administered to 70 percent of the world’s population. Fact Checking Source(s):
A conservative newspaper has accused the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a professional association for pediatricians in the U.S., of “hijacking” pediatrics, due to the organization's supportive stance on childhood vaccinations and gender-affirming care. The article criticizes the AAP for recommending COVID-19 vaccines, masks, and gender-affirming care for children.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
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):
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.