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.
The Texas attorney general announced a lawsuit against Pfizer based on the claim that the company "unlawfully misrepresented” the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine. The official specifically cites Pfizer’s reporting of clinical trial data showing 95 percent efficacy based on relative risk reduction compared to the control group as “misleading.” Notably, the lawsuit claims more vaccinated people are dying from COVID-19 than unvaccinated people based on cherry-picked U.K. data from four weeks in late 2021 and early 2022.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
The high-profile nature of the claims increases their risk. Highlighting that, according to experts, the claims in the lawsuit are not scientifically sound is recommended. Debunking talking points may emphasize data from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services that directly contradicts the lawsuit’s claims about COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Data from January to October 2021 shows that unvaccinated Texans were 20 times more likely than vaccinated Texans to die of COVID-19. Additional data from the same period found that vaccinated people accounted for only 8 percent of all COVID-19 deaths. As of April of this year, unvaccinated Texans are 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who are up to date on their vaccinations. Messaging may also explain that the lawsuit makes several false assumptions, namely conflating vaccine efficacy in clinical trials with effectiveness in real-world settings and assuming that absolute risk reduction is a more accurate measure of vaccine efficacy than relative risk reduction. Fact-Checking Source(s): Austen American-Statesman, Texas Tribune, Newsweek Talking Points Are COVID-19 vaccines safe? More than 150,000 people participated in U.S. vaccine clinical trials, and almost 700 million vaccine doses have been safely administered in the U.S., with rare instances of adverse reactions. To ensure the continued safety of COVID-19 vaccines, data from clinical trials will continue to be collected for two years after each vaccine is first administered to ensure that they are safe over the long term. As with all vaccines, there will be ongoing monitoring for adverse events among people who are vaccinated in the future. What is the risk of having a severe adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine? Severe adverse reactions after vaccination are extremely rare, but can cause long-term health issues. Rare adverse events – such as anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions, blood-clotting syndromes, heart inflammation, autoimmune diseases impacting the nervous system, and death – have been identified and investigated for legitimacy through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). How were the COVID-19 vaccines developed so quickly? The process included the same rigorous safety reviews that are required for all new vaccines. Scientists were able to develop the vaccines quickly, safely, and effectively because the urgency of the pandemic created greater access to research funding, reduced bureaucratic obstacles, and encouraged unparalleled levels of government and industry cooperation. As new variants appear, vaccine researchers will continue to develop updated COVID-19 vaccines, also called “boosters,” to provide the highest level of protection against the virus. Does the COVID-19 vaccine increase risk of miscarriage? Studies show that miscarriages are a common outcome of a typical pregnancy, impacting 11% to 22% of all reported pregnancies. However, there is no evidence to show that pregnancy risks or complications, such as miscarriage, preterm delivery, stillbirth, or birth defects, are increased because of the COVID-19 vaccines. Data do show that experiencing a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increases the risk of delivering a preterm or stillborn infant. For this reason, vaccination is critical to protect the pregnant person and the infant from negative health outcomes. COVID-19 vaccination provides antibodies to the pregnant person and the baby, protecting them both from the increased risk of serious illness. Why is it important to continue to collect data about COVID-19 cases? Are case counts accurate? COVID-19 case counts and deaths are key public health indicators, but experts agree that the number of COVID cases are likely undercounted and underreported. Case counts vary because of reporting barriers like the convenience of at-home rapid antigen testing and varied access to COVID-19 testing and diagnosis. COVID-19 death reporting is less burdened by the previous barriers but can be impacted by the timing lags in data entry across many systems of monitoring. The CDC COVID Data Tracker is a collaborative hub of COVID-19 monitoring information informed by state and county reports from hospitals, healthcare providers, and laboratories. The CDC makes this data publicly available and reports national COVID-19 data to the World Health Organization, as required under international health regulations. The current key indicators – COVID-19 test positivity, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths – help reveal COVID-19 trends across the nation. The National Center for Health Statistics also updates national statistics guidelines to ensure increased specificity and accuracy of COVID-19 death reporting. The cause-of-death determination guidelines distinguish COVID-19 and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) as either an immediate or underlying cause of death on death certificates and medical reports. These updates help to clarify if people are dying from COVID-19 illness as an immediate cause of death, or with a COVID-19-related illness or condition as an underlying cause of death. Talking Points and Answers to Tough Questions
Yes, COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The COVID-19 vaccines have been tested and monitored for safety more than any previous vaccine in U.S. history. All COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested and reviewed for human safety through a three-phase clinical trial process.
The risk of having a serious adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is very low—far lower than the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Common reactions to COVID-19 vaccination include mild side effects, such as limb soreness, fatigue, low-grade fever, headaches, and chills, which typically resolve within a few days.
It’s true that these specific vaccines were developed more quickly than previous vaccines, but their development built upon many decades of work on coronavirus vaccines and mRNA technology.
No, getting a COVID-19 vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage. To date, no monitoring system or studies have identified any association between miscarriage and COVID-19 vaccination.
Accurately tracking the spread of COVID-19 helps federal, state, and local decision-makers allocate critical emergency response funding and develop public health guidance.
An anti-vaccine website known for promoting the claim that vaccines cause autism is using a recent report to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are causing a rise in so-called “turbo cancers.”
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The persistence and widespread nature of false claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to cancer increase their risk. Debunking messaging may emphasize that there is considerable evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are not linked to any cancer and that the claims are not based on peer-reviewed research or official analysis of U.K. data. The report is a basic statistical analysis posted on the website of a prominent vaccine opponent who frequently promotes false and unsubstantiated claims about COVID-19 vaccines. Messaging may also emphasize that a rise in cancer deaths in the U.K. predates COVID-19 but was worsened by the pandemic, resulting in months-long delays in diagnoses and life-saving treatments. Research suggests that even short delays in cancer treatment significantly increase mortality. Talking points may also explain that “turbo cancer” is a fake term coined and circulated exclusively by vaccine opponents. Fact Checking Source(s): Reuters, FactCheck.org
A false analysis that was originally published in September claims that COVID-19 vaccines have caused 17 million deaths. Several vaccine opponents are recirculating the report.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
The persistence and recent resurgence of this false claim increases its risk. Debunking messaging may highlight that the report is not peer-reviewed and uses flawed methods to draw conclusions with insufficient evidence. The analysis concludes that excess deaths after the COVID-19 vaccine rollout were vaccine-related, ignoring that these deaths closely correspond with spikes in COVID-19 infection, not COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, higher vaccination rates do not correspond to higher excess deaths. Fact Checking Source(s): AFP, Health Feedback
A widely-circulated social media post questions why a vaccine against COVID-19 was developed so quickly when there are no vaccines for cancer, HIV, or the common cold.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Claims that COVID-19 vaccines were rushed or improperly tested have circulated for years, frequently using the lack of vaccines for other diseases as “evidence.” Debunking messaging may emphasize that COVID-19 is caused by a single virus that belongs to a well-researched family of viruses. By contrast, dozens of different viruses cause colds, cancers have hundreds of underlying genetic, environmental, and physiological causes, and HIV is caused by a rapidly mutating retrovirus that can hijack and prevent detection by the immune system. Research advances have produced vaccines against viruses that cause several cancers (HPV and hepatitis B) and pre- and post-exposure treatments that virtually eliminate the risk of HIV transmission. Fact Checking Source(s): Nebraska Medicine, Johns Hopkins, Very Well Health, Worldwide Cancer Research
A circulating video claims that the government will vaccinate you without your consent using aerosol mRNA vaccines. The claim is based on ongoing research at Yale studying the delivery of mRNA vaccines via nasal spray.
Recommendation:
Low Risk Read More +
Responding to every narrative may detract from priority talking points. However, since this claim has circulated repeatedly since September 2023, some organizations may wish to respond. Debunking messaging may emphasize that “inhaled” vaccines are designed to be administered to individuals through a nasal spray. There is no evidence to support the conspiracy theory that an existing or future inhaled vaccine will be delivered to unsuspecting people by aerosol delivery. Fact-checking sources: Reuters, AFP
Vaccine opponents are circulating a video of a woman describing her experiences with stroke and vision loss after getting infected with COVID-19 in 2020. The social media posts falsely claim that her health concerns are vaccine-related. The most popular post sharing the video was viewed over 3 million times. Vaccine opponents have accused the woman of lying about her condition to cover up a vaccine injury.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Prebunking messaging may highlight the anti-vaccine tactic of baselessly blaming health concerns and deaths on vaccines, even after being proven wrong. Debunking messaging may note that in the first five seconds of the shared video, the woman explains that her health issues began after she got COVID-19 in 2020, before any vaccines were available. The woman has since responded directly to the viral post misrepresenting her story, reiterating when her symptoms began and that she suffered at least one stroke after she contracted COVID-19 and before she was vaccinated. Talking points may emphasize that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. Fact Checking Source(s): NYU, University of Utah
A U.S. congressperson who has previously promoted conspiracy theories and false claims about COVID-19 held a congressional hearing about alleged vaccine “injuries” on November 13. Several anti-vaccine physicians and an attorney who has led dozens of anti-mandate lawsuits were among those who testified. The hearing provided a platform for many false claims including that COVID-19 vaccines cause pregnancy complications, infertility, and heart attacks.
Recommendation:
High Risk Read More +
Although clips and quotes from the hearing have not circulated much outside anti-vaccine circles, vaccine opponents will likely use the hearing to advance their narratives for months to come. Debunking messaging may emphasize that the claims made in the hearing are largely based on misinterpretations of unverified safety data and low-quality studies. Two-thirds of the world’s population—over 5 billion people—received the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, with no evidence of widespread health issues. Over three years of research and rigorous safety monitoring worldwide have proven repeatedly that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for all eligible populations. Fact-Checking Source(s): ACOG, CIDRAP, Science Feedback
Talking Points Are COVID-19 vaccines safe? More than 150,000 people participated in U.S. vaccine clinical trials, and almost 700 million vaccine doses have been safely administered in the U.S., with rare instances of adverse reactions. To ensure the continued safety of COVID-19 vaccines, data from clinical trials will continue to be collected for two years after each vaccine is first administered to ensure that they are safe over the long term. As with all vaccines, there will be ongoing monitoring for adverse events among people who are vaccinated in the future. What is the risk of having a severe adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine? Severe adverse reactions after vaccination are extremely rare, but can cause long-term health issues. Rare adverse events – such as anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions, blood-clotting syndromes, heart inflammation, autoimmune diseases impacting the nervous system, and death – have been identified and investigated for legitimacy through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). How were the COVID-19 vaccines developed so quickly? The process included the same rigorous safety reviews that are required for all new vaccines. Scientists were able to develop the vaccines quickly, safely, and effectively because the urgency of the pandemic created greater access to research funding, reduced bureaucratic obstacles, and encouraged unparalleled levels of government and industry cooperation. As new variants appear, vaccine researchers will continue to develop updated COVID-19 vaccines, also called “boosters,” to provide the highest level of protection against the virus. Does the COVID-19 vaccine increase risk of miscarriage? Studies show that miscarriages are a common outcome of a typical pregnancy, impacting 11% to 22% of all reported pregnancies. However, there is no evidence to show that pregnancy risks or complications, such as miscarriage, preterm delivery, stillbirth, or birth defects, are increased because of the COVID-19 vaccines. Data do show that experiencing a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increases the risk of delivering a preterm or stillborn infant. For this reason, vaccination is critical to protect the pregnant person and the infant from negative health outcomes. COVID-19 vaccination provides antibodies to the pregnant person and the baby, protecting them both from the increased risk of serious illness. Why is it important to continue to collect data about COVID-19 cases? Are case counts accurate? COVID-19 case counts and deaths are key public health indicators, but experts agree that the number of COVID cases are likely undercounted and underreported. Case counts vary because of reporting barriers like the convenience of at-home rapid antigen testing and varied access to COVID-19 testing and diagnosis. COVID-19 death reporting is less burdened by the previous barriers but can be impacted by the timing lags in data entry across many systems of monitoring. The CDC COVID Data Tracker is a collaborative hub of COVID-19 monitoring information informed by state and county reports from hospitals, healthcare providers, and laboratories. The CDC makes this data publicly available and reports national COVID-19 data to the World Health Organization, as required under international health regulations. The current key indicators – COVID-19 test positivity, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths – help reveal COVID-19 trends across the nation. The National Center for Health Statistics also updates national statistics guidelines to ensure increased specificity and accuracy of COVID-19 death reporting. The cause-of-death determination guidelines distinguish COVID-19 and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) as either an immediate or underlying cause of death on death certificates and medical reports. These updates help to clarify if people are dying from COVID-19 illness as an immediate cause of death, or with a COVID-19-related illness or condition as an underlying cause of death. Talking Points and Answers to Tough Questions
Yes, COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The COVID-19 vaccines have been tested and monitored for safety more than any previous vaccine in U.S. history. All COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested and reviewed for human safety through a three-phase clinical trial process.
The risk of having a serious adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is very low—far lower than the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Common reactions to COVID-19 vaccination include mild side effects, such as limb soreness, fatigue, low-grade fever, headaches, and chills, which typically resolve within a few days.
It’s true that these specific vaccines were developed more quickly than previous vaccines, but their development built upon many decades of work on coronavirus vaccines and mRNA technology.
No, getting a COVID-19 vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage. To date, no monitoring system or studies have identified any association between miscarriage and COVID-19 vaccination.
Accurately tracking the spread of COVID-19 helps federal, state, and local decision-makers allocate critical emergency response funding and develop public health guidance.
An old clip is circulating of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claiming that vaccine manufacturers intentionally produce harmful vaccines to profit from the treatment of vaccine injuries.
Recommendation:
Low Risk Read More +
Responding to each baseless claim may detract from priority talking points. If organizations wish to respond, messaging may emphasize that vaccines are held to the highest possible safety and quality standards and are closely monitored by researchers and health authorities worldwide. Fact-checking sources: CDC, College of Physicians of Philadelphia
False claims about childhood vaccine safety continue to circulate on social media. One trending post shares an anecdote about children suffering from dizziness after receiving three immunizations at a school vaccine clinic. The post questions why parents allow their children to receive multiple vaccines.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
Resistance to childhood vaccines is rising nationwide, with a growing number of parents opposing school vaccine requirements and seeking exemptions for their children. Emphasizing that all vaccines go through rigorous safety testing, including clinical trials, before they are approved for the public is recommended, as is continuing to emphasize that children are far more likely to be hurt by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine. Fact Checking Source(s): AAP, Boost Oregon
A physician who founded an anti-COVID-19 vaccine organization claims that children do not need COVID-19 vaccines, which she calls experimental. She also claims that doctors receive financial incentives to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Recommendation:
Medium Risk Read More +
False information about the safety and necessity of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines is widespread, resulting in hesitancy and low vaccine uptake. Debunking messaging may explain that the CDC and FDA recommend vaccination for children over 6 months because vaccines protect against severe illness and death from COVID-19. Messaging may also emphasize that health insurance incentive programs require doctors to meet performance goals related to patient care, including encouraging patients to stay up to date on recommended vaccinations. Vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccines, are an important part of pediatric care. Fact Checking Source(s): AAP, Mayo Clinic
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.