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.

A recent study investigating adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines is being misrepresented online. One popular post, which does not link to or even name the study, highlights that the researchers found that people with prior COVID-19 infections were more likely to have adverse reactions after COVID-19 vaccination. The post falsely claims that vaccination after infection is “all risk, no benefit.”

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A popular conspiracy theorist aired a segment falsely claiming that COVID-19 vaccines contain toxic DNA and cancer viruses. The video also repeats the disproven claim that cancer rates are “exploding” due to COVID-19 vaccines. 

Recommendation: High Risk Read More +

A controversial physician whose board certification was revoked for promoting “false or inaccurate medical misinformation” claimed in a recent interview to have treated hundreds of patients with COVID-19 vaccine injuries. The physician insists without evidence that 70 percent of the people he treats have so-called “long vax, not long COVID.” Posts sharing the interview claim that “long COVID is code for vaccine injuries.” 

Recommendation: High Risk Read More +

The CDC allegedly released 148 FOIA-requested pages related to myocarditis events following COVID-19 vaccination that were heavily redacted. Critics have accused the agency of a lack of transparency.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

Following a reference about the potential of mRNA cancer vaccines at the State of the Union address, some online falsely claimed that President Joe Biden said that COVID-19 vaccines are being used to cure cancer. Other social media users claim that mRNA cancer vaccines will treat a problem allegedly caused by COVID-19 vaccines.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A recent op-ed by a well-known COVID-19 vaccine opponent is resurfacing false claims online that COVID-19 vaccination triggers long COVID, or “long vax,” in 70 percent of cases.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A member of Congress proposed the Let Injured Americans Be Legally Empowered (Liable) Act, which would allow Americans to retroactively sue COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers for alleged vaccine injuries. News about the proposed bill has been widely circulated and celebrated among vaccine skeptics.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

A local news story about how mRNA technology is being used to make new flu vaccines is circulating among vaccine opponents, with some claiming that COVID-19 vaccines will be rebranded as flu vaccines.

Recommendation: Low Risk Read More +

The CDC’s updated guidance for respiratory viruses faces criticism from both vaccine skeptics and those who feel the agency isn’t doing enough to protect the public from COVID-19. The guidelines advise people to take similar precautions for COVID-19, the flu, and RSV, including staying up to date on vaccination, isolating until symptoms improve, and wearing a mask for five days after discontinuing isolation. Many posts falsely claim that the CDC said COVID-19 is the same as the flu, while others question why the CDC continues to recommend vaccines for COVID-19.

Recommendation: Medium Risk Read More +

An anti-vaccine social media account that has spread false claims about COVID-19 in the past attempts to link Bill Gates to a rare mosquito-borne virus called Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) reported in two states in August 2023. The post implies that Gates created the virus to sell new vaccines.

Recommendation: Low Risk 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