The high-profile nature of this misinformation elevates its risk. Misconceptions about vaccine-derived polio are persistent and take time to combat. Consider countering misinformation about vaccine-derived polio by explaining that vaccines protect against all forms of polio. Emphasizing that this type of vaccine-derived polio is extremely rare and only dangerous to unvaccinated people is recommended. Messaging may also explain that the best way to prevent any type of polio outbreak—whether wild polio or vaccine-derived—is to vaccinate all children.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• Global Citizen
• ABC News

Responding to each piece of misinformation may detract from priority talking points. The claims made in the doctor’s testimony are baseless and have been repeatedly disproven. Evidence that vaccines are deadly is limited to unverified data in vaccine monitoring systems and anecdotes shared online.

Fact-checking sources:

• Reuters
• The Hill

Emphasizing the flaws in the posts’ interpretation of the study’s purpose and findings is recommended, as is explaining that the researchers explicitly state that the findings did not enable them to identify factors that influence reinfection rates. The analysis also did not include data about vaccine type, time since last vaccine dose, COVID-19 exposure risk, underlying conditions, or frequency of COVID-19 testing, which would be necessary to determine if vaccination status influences reinfection risk. 

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• AP

The researchers say that the article and those sharing it are misrepresenting the study, which found no difference in infectiousness based on vaccination status and that vaccinated people were contagious for one day less than unvaccinated people. Explaining that the claim that vaccinated people are more contagious is based on a misunderstanding of the tests used in the study to measure the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the infectiousness of the virus present is recommended. 

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• Reuters

No data about cause of death or vaccination status was included in the first article, making it impossible to draw conclusions about the vaccines’ potential role in excess deaths. While COVID-19 death data is based on official reports from state health departments and federal health authorities, the data in the second article is based on unverified responses to a survey. Around 15,000 deaths after COVID-19 vaccination have been reported to VAERS—which contains user-submitted, unverified reports—and analyses of these deaths have not revealed that a significant number were caused by the vaccines. Emphasizing that these reporting systems contain unverified reports while directing to actual evidence is recommended, as is continuing to explain what mild side effects people can expect after vaccination. 

Fact Checking Source(s): 

• Full Fact