Incorrect Health Posted on: 2022-05-26 Monkeypox outbreak triggers conspiracy theories on social media claiming that it was planned or incorrectly linking it to COVID-19 vaccines Claim: Monkeypox is caused by COVID-19 vaccines; a 2021 tabletop exercise portraying a monkeypox pandemic is evidence that global leaders planned the outbreak; the monkeypox vaccine was “ready” before the outbreak Source: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Social media users, 2022-05-13
Unsupported Health Posted on: 2022-05-20 No scientific evidence supports the claim that consuming apple cider vinegar is a rapid and effective long-term weight control approach Claim: Apple cider vinegar and thermogenic supplements are effective for rapid weight loss Source: Facebook, Facebook users, 2022-05-01
Misleading Health Posted on: 2022-05-18 The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe disease and other complications outweigh the risk of myocarditis, which is higher after COVID-19 itself Claim: “they were not able to find a single healthy child in america that died from COVID-19 […] but one in every 2700 people are getting myocarditis”; “athletes are collapsing on playing fields as for myocarditis and it's from the vaccines”; Moderna patent filed in 2019 is linked to the pandemic Source: This Past Weekend with Theo Von, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2021-12-09
Misleading Health Posted on: 2022-05-18 The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe disease and other complications outweigh the risk of myocarditis, which is higher after COVID-19 itself Claim: “they were not able to find a single healthy child in america that died from COVID-19 […] but one in every 2700 people are getting myocarditis”; “athletes are collapsing on playing fields as for myocarditis and it's from the vaccines”; Moderna patent filed in 2019 is linked to the pandemic Source: This Past Weekend with Theo Von, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2021-12-09
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2022-05-07 Multiple studies show that COVID-19 vaccines don’t cause pregnancy or fertility problems, despite widespread claims on social media Claim: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines accumulate in the ovaries, change menstrual cycles, and lead the immune system to mount “an immune response to their own placental protein” Source: The Epoch Times, James Thorp, Michael Yeadon, 2022-05-27
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2022-04-29 Cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children are unrelated to COVID-19 vaccines Claim: Cases of acute hepatitis in children are linked to COVID-19 vaccines Source: Instagram, Twitter/X, Social media users, 2022-04-22
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2022-04-24 Social media posts inaccurately link hormonal contraceptives with polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, and depression Claim: Hormonal birth control is associated with “PCOS [polycystic ovarian syndrome], hormonal imbalances, depression, and infertility” Source: Reallygraceful, Anonymous, 2021-11-11
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2022-04-24 Social media posts inaccurately link hormonal contraceptives with polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, and depression Claim: Hormonal birth control is associated with “PCOS [polycystic ovarian syndrome], hormonal imbalances, depression, and infertility” Source: Reallygraceful, Anonymous, 2021-11-11
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2022-04-09 Current evidence doesn’t indicate that sunscreen ingredients increase the risk of cancer; it shows that unprotected sun exposure does Claim: “Sunscreens cause cancer, not the sun”; sunscreen and sunless tanning products contain cancer-causing ingredients Source: Facebook, Instagram, Social media users, 2022-04-03
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2022-04-01 Children under six are at a much higher risk of hepatitis B-related complications than adults; vaccination is very safe and effective at preventing infection and disease Claim: “If you don't have hepatitis B then your baby's not going to have hepatitis B”; “there's 16 times the amount of aluminum that the FDA says can poison a baby” Source: The Liz Wheeler Show, Liz Wheeler, 2022-03-23