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.

An article on a right-wing news site baselessly claims that Pfizer hid information about myocarditis risks from the public and that the company conspired with the U.S. government to commit “vaccine fraud.” The post also repeats the myth that COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials were rushed and skipped steps. The article has been widely shared on social media, with the most popular post racking up over 17,000 engagements.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

In a long social media thread with thousands of reposts, a young woman describes a debilitating illness that she claims is an injury from the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Although the thread itself does not include any misinformation, only unverified claims, it has received considerable attention from vaccine opponents who are using her story to discourage vaccination. Notably, the original poster was not diagnosed with any vaccine injury and says she doesn't know if she may have caught COVID-19 before or between her vaccine doses. The responses to the thread are full of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine safety and fake COVID-19 cures.

Recommendation: High Risk Read More +

A social media account that claims to be run by a physician and frequently posts anti-vaccine and right-wing conspiracy theories has posted that they have never seen a vaccine more damaging than the COVID-19 vaccine. The post was shared over 8,600 times and has over 12,000 engagements. It is unclear if the account is run by a real doctor as it uses the name of a 19th-century Native American physician and reformer.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A conspiracy news site published an article falsely claiming that monkeypox is being used to cover up so-called “vaccine-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” (VAIDS) caused by COVID-19 vaccines. The article, which has been widely circulated on social media, falsely claims that monkeypox is similar to a rare autoimmune blistering disease that was listed in Pfizer documents as a potential vaccine side effect. The site making the false claim regularly misrepresents and manipulates data to support false claims about COVID-19 vaccines.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A blog post written by a conspiracist who claimed previously that COVID-19 vaccines contain demonic trackers is trending on social media. The post, which has been shared thousands of times, features screenshots of a social media thread that asks people who have received a COVID-19 booster if they are experiencing chest pain. The post also ‌falsely claims that a majority of vaccinated people are likely to have myocarditis. All the claims in the blog post and social media thread are unsubstantiated and anecdotal. 

Recommendation: High Risk Read More +

A South Africa-based organization that has opposed COVID-19 mitigation measures claims in a recent report that COVID-19 vaccination causes a “massive increase” in myocarditis. The claim is based on an analysis of VAERS reports of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A radio host who is known for promoting anti-vaccine misinformation falsely claimed that boosters can weaken the immune system. The video has been viewed over 61,000 times.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A post on a right-wing site that frequently publishes fake stories falsely claims that the U.S. military found pesticides in vials containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The post cites an anonymous source in the office of a Marine Corps general. In a statement, the Department of Defense press office denied the claim as completely fabricated.

Recommendation: Low Risk Read More +

A Canadian author shared a video of Bill Gates discussing COVID-19 vaccines with the accusation that the billionaire philanthropist is “big on depopulation,” insinuating that COVID-19 vaccines are part of a depopulation plan. The video has been viewed over 1.3 million times and the post received thousands of engagements. Far from being tools for depopulation, COVID-19 vaccines have been safely administered to over two-thirds of the global population and saved millions of lives in the process.

Recommendation: Passive Response Read More +

A right-wing political commentator with over 63,000 followers is promoting the conspiracy theory that claimed the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines are part of a “Great Reset,” a plan by global leaders to control the world’s population. The post claims the pandemic was phase one of the plan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and food and fuel shortages are part of phase two. The post has been viewed 400,000 times and received nearly 2,000 engagements.

Recommendation: Passive Response Read More +

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.

Vaccine Misinformation Guide

Get practical tips for addressing misinformation in this new guide. Click image to download, or see highlights