# Infodemic Report • Vaccines

Hoaxlines Lab • May 11 to 17, 2023

:::spoiler
Definitions and sourcing information for data can be found in the [appendix section](https://hackmd.io/@Hoaxlines/Infodemic-2023-05-11-17#Appendix-2023-05-17-%E2%80%A2-Infodemic-Report).
[toc]
:::

## Influential Posts About Vaccines

One article that received over 17,000 shares on Twitter and over 800 on Facebook is incredibly named [100% of COVID Deaths in Canada Now Due to mRNA Vaccine, New Data Shows](https://web.archive.org/web/20230307183302/https://www.eutimes.net/2023/02/100-of-covid-deaths-in-canada-now-due-to-mrna-vaccine-new-data-shows/).

- This claim is false ([Watson et al., 2022](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00320-6/fulltext#seccestitle140)). One estimate from June 2022 found that in the first year of vaccination (from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021) the world should have expected around 18.1 million deaths without vaccines. Around 14.4 million of those were prevented.


- This means that vaccines may have reduced the global death rate by 79% during the first year of vaccinations. However, these numbers may be lower than the true number of lives saved because the study did not consider deaths caused by COVID-19 that were not reported as such.

Elon Musk [tweeted that](https://www.junkipedia.org/posts/122396730) U.S. President Biden tried to fire "some of our best people" for being unvaccinated.

- This was the single [most engaged](https://www.notion.so/Infodemic-Report-Vaccines-fe887073aba54233ba7e0fb1e99fdb1a) vaccine-related tweet globally for the week of May 11 to 17, 2023.

Candace Owen shares [a personal story](https://www.tiktok.com/@dailywire/video/7232100595627298090) on TikTok about receiving the Gardasil vaccine.

- The Daily Wire, her employer, has [previously used](https://novelscience.substack.com/p/daily-wire-drove-donotcomply-by-using?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fdaily%2520wire&utm_medium=reader2) anti-vaccine hashtags in marketing campaigns as documented by Hoaxlines Lab in 2021. Owen also promoted the story [on Twitter](https://www.junkipedia.org/posts/122340747).

Joseph Mercola [published an article](https://web.archive.org/web/20230517060816/https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/big-pharma-scientific-research-profits-cola/) on Children’s Health Defense called "How Big Pharma Controls Scientific Research," promoting a popular trope that casts scientists as beholden to pharmaceutical companies.

- [Prebunking Health Misinformation Tropes Can Stop Their Spread](https://www.wired.com/story/prebunking-health-misinformation-tropes-can-stop-their-spread/)
- [Medical conspiracy theories: cognitive science and implications for ethics](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7161434/)

Conspiracy theories have always been present, but recent trends in politics and media make it appear that they are on the rise. This is also true for medical conspiracy theories. This article reviews some of the most notorious health-related conspiracy theories and explains why people believe them using concepts from cognitive science.

Based on this knowledge, the article presents normative proposals for public health officials and health workers to deal with conspiracy theories while preserving fundamental principles of medical ethics.

Steve Kirsch (@stkirsch) [claimed](https://www.junkipedia.org/posts/122426673) that vaccines are causing "eyeball clots."

- The claim is based on the findings of a study in Nature. The study itself [calls for further](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41541-023-00661-7) research and suggests the relationship may not simply be a coincidence. This is far from certain and as the study notes “the causality between the two is debatable.”

A [post reiterated](https://www.junkipedia.org/posts/121963387) [an older false claim](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/23/facebook-posts/anti-vaxxers-spread-conspiracy-about-bill-gates-an/) about Bill Gates and a vaccine trial in India.

- A 2021 list from Hoaxlines Lab gathered the Bill Gates conspiracy theories from a database of disinformation. It’s pretty remarkable just how many there are.

[Paxton Victorious in Lawsuit Against the Biden Administration’s Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/paxton-victorious-lawsuit-against-biden-administrations-vaccine-mandate-federal-contractors)

# The Rumor Mill

### Expired J&J vaccines are being destroyed, not “pulled”

To put it simply, the issue is not that something bad happened. Instead, a lot of J&J vaccines (about 12.5 million doses) were not used. This might be seen as a problem because resources were wasted, and there was a chance to vaccinate more people. Any [reports suggesting](https://gyazo.com/3940d33ce6edd430d8c5ef3023da7e67) that something bad happened are wrong unless they are talking about these unused vaccines.

* Since its introduction, approximately 19 million individuals in the United States have received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Despite the distribution of over 31.5 million doses across various states and jurisdictions, approximately 12.5 million doses remain unused, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

* Last year, the CDC had restricted the emergency use authorization of the J&J vaccine to adults for whom other vaccines were not suitable or accessible. This was due to the potential risk of a rare but severe clotting disorder known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome that could develop post-vaccination.

: Example of a post implying something went wrong with the vaccines.

The vaccines expired on May 7, 2023, so the CDC instructed that any remaining doses be destroyed.

### False claims about vaccines and HIV in the military

A tweet claiming that the U.S. military is now broadly testing soldiers for "AIDS" (we test for HIV, not AIDS) racked up over 2700 retweets in a few hours on May 17, 2023. The same claim [went viral](https://web.archive.org/web/20230517214627/https://twitter.com/realstewpeters/status/1631362335406186520) in March when Stew Peters, a prominent conspiracy theorist, tweeted about it.


Claims that the U.S. military has seen a 500% increase in HIV cases after the COVID-19 vaccinations are unfounded.

- Official figures show a slight rise in HIV diagnoses from 237 in 2020 to 309 in 2021 (a 30% increase), followed by a drop to 124 in 2022.
- This decrease represents a nearly 60% drop from 2021. There's no evidence linking the COVID-19 vaccine to the development of HIV.
- These claims, spread by conservative influencers, notably radio [host Hal Turner,](https://archive.org/details/screenshot-96_20230309) are unsupported by any data or evidence. Turner did not respond to requests for comment from AP.

The Defense Department and the Congressional Research Service have confirmed that these figures are greatly exaggerated. They also reiterated that no condition known as "vaccine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" or "[VAIDS](https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-vaids-fakes-idUSL1N2UM1C7)" exists. The idea appeared online in 2021 among accounts known for spreading unsubstantiated claims.

- In the last six years, the average number of new HIV cases in the U.S. military has been about 264 per year, which is consistent with earlier estimates. These numbers include service members in the National Guard and Reserves.
- Misinformation concerning increased rates of various illnesses following the COVID-19 vaccination among military personnel has been spread before, citing "leaked" data from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED).
- The Defense Health Agency revealed that this data was flawed due to an error for the years 2016 to 2020, causing an illusion of a disproportionate increase in medical conditions in 2021. This issue has since been corrected.

Source: [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-ap-check-619347436728); [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-vaids-fakes-idUSL1N2UM1C7); [USAToday](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/03/16/fact-check-false-claim-covid-19-vaccine-caused-hiv-increase-military/11435012002/); [Lead Stories](https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/03/fact-check-covid-shots-do-not-cause-vaccine-induced-aids-did-not-cause-increase-in-hiv-in-us-military.html)

### False or misleading claims about vaccinating livestock

Misleading claims about mRNA vaccines and livestock have been recirculating. These claims falsely state that farmers must vaccinate their cattle using mRNA vaccines, which are currently not licensed. Some claims also falsely suggest that humans who consume animals vaccinated with mRNA will also consume the mRNA themselves. These claims have spread previously, possibly due to comments made by Bill Gates about his foundation's funding for livestock vaccine development. Sources: [Health Feedback](https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/misrepresented-2018-clip-bill-gates-trigger-inaccurate-claims-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-livestock-transfer-to-people-through-diet/), [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-mrna-vaccine-livestock-mandate-covid-564035224253)

##### Are there livestock vaccines with mRNA technology?
- No vaccine for livestock in the US uses the same mRNA tech as the COVID-19 vaccine. Some livestock have received a COVID-19 immunization, but it did not use mRNA tech.
- RNA tech is used in vaccines for swine, such as Merck's Sequivity vaccine. Merck's tech predates and differs from the mRNA tech used in the COVID-19 vaccine. Sources: [Health Feedback](https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/misrepresented-2018-clip-bill-gates-trigger-inaccurate-claims-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-livestock-transfer-to-people-through-diet/), [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-mrna-vaccine-livestock-mandate-covid-564035224253)

##### What does the U.S. government require for livestock vaccinations?

- According to Marissa Perry, a spokesperson for the US Department of Agriculture, business owners are not required to vaccinate their livestock. The decision is left up to individuals.
- Some agricultural workers choose to vaccinate their livestock, as it has been proven safe and effective in preventing disease. Source: [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-mrna-vaccine-livestock-mandate-covid-564035224253)

##### Can vaccinating animals harm human health?

- Consuming animal products from vaccinated livestock does not harm human health. Vaccine withdrawal periods ensure that the animal products humans consume are free from vaccine remnants. Source: [APHIS](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downloads/ed_materials/vac_overview_handout.pdf)
- mRNA vaccines for animals are in early phases and [may protect](https://theconversation.com/vaccines-using-mrna-can-protect-farm-animals-against-diseases-traditional-ones-may-not-and-there-are-safeguards-to-ensure-they-wont-end-up-in-your-food-204774) against diseases that normal vaccines cannot. That doesn’t mean it will end up in your food.

##### What is Bill Gates' involvement in this?

- A video of Bill Gates discussing the Gates Foundation's partnership with the UK Department for International Development to promote livestock vaccination has been shared on social media.
- Conspiracy theorists have claimed that Gates aims to use mRNA tech as a depopulation tool. However, there is no evidence that Gates or other global elites use vaccinations to control the population or negatively impact the food supply. Sources: [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-gates-animals/fact-check-bill-gates-did-not-say-he-wants-to-vaccinate-animals-to-give-them-better-genetics-idUSL1N33Y1L6), [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-gates-vaccine/fact-check-bill-gates-quoteabout-vaccines-and-population-growth-has-beentaken-out-of-contextagain-idUSL1N2MF1L8)

## Other Rumors

[German study looked into COVID’s impact on the brain, not vaccine effects](https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-study-covid-vaccines-infection-brain-damage-914340054420)

- The debunk from AP News explains its succinctly:

> Social media posts are circulating a headline that misrepresents a study exploring the ramifications of COVID-19 on the brain, falsely suggesting the research was centered on vaccines. The “European Study Concludes COVID Jabs Cause ‘Long-Term Brain Damage,’” reads the headline from The People’s Voice, a website that has spread misinformation and previously operated as News Punch and Your News Wire. The story was shared by thousands on Twitter, and the headline appeared in screenshots on Instagram.

[Covid vaccines are not linked to excess deaths, despite what the anti-vaxxers believe](https://inews.co.uk/news/covid-vaccines-not-linked-excess-deaths-anti-vaxxers-believe-2342492).

- Joseph Mercola published an article on Children’s Health Defense that falsely claims that vaccines were linked to a “27-fold higher risk of miscarriage.”
- The study cited was not peer-reviewed and was co-authored with [other frequent](https://gyazo.com/c857fa3b3f4e7e514d401a2a69aa1a1b) CHD authors. The false or unsubstantiated claims in the article are repeated [on Rumble](https://gyazo.com/602a8a3a72751eb108a5e8a8e1341d7b) in the video's text description.
- As Hoaxlines Lab [covered in 2021](https://hoaxlines.org/2021/getting-to-the-bottom-of-covid-vaccines-fertility-and-pregnancy#06daba09813e49f49a461dc9a6e58613):

> Reports from over 35,000 US women who received mRNA vaccines while pregnant [show comparable](https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-science-health-coronavirus-vaccine-coronavirus-782b1b326dc58f22f05bf64a3711b4a9) rates of miscarriage, premature birth, and other complications compared to before the pandemic. These preliminary results reflect women who received either the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA shots while pregnant. Their rates of miscarriage, premature births, and other complications were comparable to those observed in published reports on pregnant women before the pandemic.


N Engl J Med 2021; 384:2273-2282 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2104983

> Critically, we know that pregnant women are more likely to fall seriously ill if infected with Covid, and while we haven’t found the virus affecting babies in utero, it may affect them in ways that are harder to detect.

- In 2022, JAMA [published a summary](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2790610) of other studies of vaccinated pregnant women. The participants spanned countries and totaled 250,000. They found the vaccines were safe and there were no increased risks to pregnant women.
- More studies demonstrating the safety of vaccination during pregnancy can be found in the [appendix.]()

# News

- [Telehealth Start-ups Are Monetizing Misinformation – And Your Data](https://www.codastory.com/waronscience/pseudohealth/telehealth-companies-misinformation/)
- [Doctors, academics, activists call for removal of top Vancouver doctor from her role over COVID-19 claims](https://bc.ctvnews.ca/doctors-academics-activists-call-for-removal-of-top-vancouver-doctor-from-her-role-over-covid-19-claims-1.6399289)
- [Can giant surveys fight misinformation on COVID, climate change, and more?](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01614-9) Shocked by the COVID-19 infodemic, several efforts have been launched to gather researchers’ consensus views, with the hope of improving public debate and policymaking.
- [Dirty-bomb antidote: Drug trial begins in US](https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65595250)
- [Bat lands worldwide are besieged, seeding risk of a new pandemic](https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/global-pandemic-bats-jumpzones/)
- [Three late-night pharmacies in Canberra have been targeted by anti-vaxxers trying to give them a three-page cease and desists letter for administering Covid vaccines](https://web.archive.org/web/20230511223604/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12073013/Anti-vaxxers-storm-Canberra-chemist-shops-hand-staff-cease-desist-letters-Covid-jabs.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490).
- [Claim about actor Jamie Foxx’s health debunked by daughter](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/may/16/facebook-posts/claim-about-actor-jamie-foxxs-health-debunked-by-d/)
- [Long-sought universal flu vaccine: mRNA-based candidate enters clinical trial](https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/05/experimental-universal-flu-vaccine-with-an-mrna-based-design-enters-trial/)
- [Texas woman killed by boyfriend after she got an abortion, police say](https://newsfactsnetwork.com/2023/05/14/texas-woman-killed-by-boyfriend-after-she-got-an-abortion-police-say/)
- [The Plastic Crisis Finally Gets Emergency Status](https://www.wired.com/story/plastic-pollution-emergency-united-nations/)
- [We can ID people from DNA that shows up in environmental studies](https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/05/human-genomic-bycatch-our-dna-shows-up-in-environmental-samples/)

# Research and Policy

[Vaccines using mRNA can protect farm animals against diseases traditional ones may not – and there are safeguards to ensure they won’t end up in your food](https://theconversation.com/vaccines-using-mrna-can-protect-farm-animals-against-diseases-traditional-ones-may-not-and-there-are-safeguards-to-ensure-they-wont-end-up-in-your-food-204774)

[FTC says fertility tracking app Premom shared sensitive health data with third parties](https://therecord.media/ftc-says-fertility-tracking-app-premom-shared-sensitive-data)

- The Federal Trade Commission accused the developer of a free fertility app of sharing sensitive personal information and health data on its users with China-based firms and other third parties without obtaining permission.

[Vaccine authorized for emergency use in California condors amid bird flu outbreak](https://apnews.com/article/california-condors-vaccine-avian-influenza-6740bddc8ae6b9f9ab8d9a4b43360d4e)

- California condors, a critically endangered vulture species, will receive a vaccine for the deadly bird flu strain H5N1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service granted emergency approval after over a dozen condors died from the virus.

[Opportunities for Improved Dengue Control in the US Territories](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805282)

- Dengue is a common arboviral disease that has been growing globally. In 2019, there were an estimated 56.9 million cases and 36,100 deaths, causing 2.4 million disability-adjusted life-years lost. In the US, there were over 30,000 locally acquired and 7,000 travel-associated cases from 2010 to 2021.
- In 2019, travel-associated dengue cases in the US reached an all-time high of 1,464. Young people in US territories are affected by DENV infection more than others. Interventions are needed, and the dengue vaccine will help reduce the burden.

[Biological Weapons Convention: In the Crosshairs of Geopolitical Tensions](https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2023/05/17/biological-weapons-convention-in-the-crosshairs-of-geopolitical-tensions-part-1/)

- The BWC wasn't a priority for arms-control diplomats until the Ukraine conflict began in 2022. Russia accused the U.S. of military activities in Ukrainian biological labs, causing multiple attempts to investigate the issue. Russia has since taken a leading role in the BWC.
- Tension around the BWC increased in 2020 when the U.S. put three Russian defense facilities on a security risk list. In 2021, the U.S. State Department reported that Russia violated the BWC with an offensive biowarfare program. China and Russia called for a legally binding protocol to the BWC and expressed worries about U.S. military biological activities.
- In 2022, Russia and China pushed for a legally binding protocol to the BWC, repeating their concerns about U.S. biosecurity activities. The meeting, including representatives from Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and other states, didn't result in a unified conclusion. Some countries defended international cooperation activities, while others questioned U.S. bio-programs. Many countries were vague or silent on the issue. See[Russia changed its story about bioweapons. China followed Russia’s lead.](https://hoaxlines.org/2022/russia-changed-its-story-about-bioweapons-then-russia-and-china-opened-the-disinformation-floodgates)for more information about Russia and China’s collaboration in spreading biological weapons disinformation.
- In October 2022, Russia complained that its concerns about U.S. and Ukrainian military and biological activities hadn't been fully addressed. They hinted at the possibility of asking for an investigation into non-compliance with the BWC. The U.S. proposed a more constructive approach to strengthen the BWC. For more background on the claims about biological weapons and Ukraine see[U.S.-Ukraine ‘biolabs story’ likely authored by Russian intelligence](https://hoaxlines.org/2022/us-ukraine-biolabs-story-likely-authored-by-russian-intelligence).
- Two significant proposals were brought forward - one from Hungary, which was accepted, and another from Russia, which was rejected for the third time. The BWC review conference agreed on the formation of a new working group to strengthen the BWC, including measures for compliance and verification. They also decided in principle to establish two other mechanisms relating to international cooperation and review of scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention.
- As of 2023, the conflict in Ukraine continues and Russia maintains its allegations about U.S. bio-weapons. However, the establishment of the new working group gives some hope that the BWC can be strengthened. The working group is scheduled to start its substantive work in August and is expected to face challenges when it comes to compliance and verification.
- This is a critical moment for the BWC. With key anniversaries in 2025, there is an opportunity to find concrete solutions to strengthen the convention and improve biosecurity, despite the many challenges.