Coronavirus

Is COVID-19 vaccine shedding real, meaning it can spread from person to person? No, that's not true: The COVID-19 shots authorized for use in the United States do not contain the live virus and therefore cannot replicate in the body or be shed. Additionally, infectious disease experts told Lead Stories that there's no credible scientific evidence supporting the claim. The…

Did MSNBC host Rachel Maddow post on X discouraging people from disclosing vaccine injuries "on social media," as a post on Instagram suggested? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for MSNBC confirmed to Lead Stories that "the post is fake." Lead Stories also conducted advanced searches through Maddow's X profile, both live and archived versions, dating to February 15, 2024,…

Does a Red Cross blood donation question prove that COVID-19 vaccines are harmful? No, that's not true: The Food and Drug Administration requires the question of all blood collectors in the United States. The federal agency allows people to donate blood immediately after getting a COVID vaccine if they feel well and have no symptoms, as long as the vaccine…

Does a video circulating on social media in February 2024 show several journalism students who were recently recorded wearing medical-style face masks outdoors? No, that's not true: The video dates back to September 24, 2021 when the Arizona State University students were at the state capitol to cover the release of the Arizona election audit results for Cronkite News. They…

Did Amy Schumer say she developed "vaccine acquired immune deficiency syndrome" (VAIDS) as a result of COVID-19 vaccination? No, that's not true: Schumer said on her Instagram account that she has endometriosis, a disease that causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow outside the uterus. VAIDS is not a recognized medical condition related to COVID-19 vaccination…

Did an immunologist accidentally admit that COVID-19 vaccines were intended to sterilize humans, as a video on Instagram implied? No, that's not true: Though the post included genuine footage, it lacked context that makes clear what was meant. Dr. John Bell's comments in an interview were about "sterilizing immunity", a public health term that refers to eradicating a virus from…

Does a homemade concoction made of boiled citrus fruits, root vegetables and herbs prevent COVID-19? No, that's not true: An infectious disease expert told Lead Stories that "there's absolutely no evidence that this will work," and there is no verified scientific study confirming the effectiveness of such a mixture in preventing a person from contracting the virus. He recommended that…

Did the World Health Organization seek "surveillance powers to monitor every man, woman, and child for 'disease control'" as a post on Instagram implied? No, that's not true: The post in question referred to a set of WHO recommendations that WHO member countries expand pathogen tracking and vaccine development in advance of potential pandemics. There is no call to surveil…

Did Microsoft announce plans to disable the computers of users who share "non-mainstream content" online? No, that's not true: This claim is completely made up, mis-stating what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview with NBC's Lester Holt. Nadella did not say computers would be disabled if people were sharing "non-mainstream content" online, as is clear from the video…

Does a government health poster list "heart attacks," "strokes" and "sudden death" as side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, as shown in an Instagram post? No, that's not true: It is counterfeit. Though it was made to look like official Irish government health circulars, the Irish government never published a poster listing those as side effects. Additionally, there is no…

Does a social media post showing a group of maps with overlapping hotspots prove a connection between 5G coverage and the spread of COVID-19? No, that's not true: A similar data distribution of 5G coverage and high numbers of COVID-19 cases on maps does not prove a connection between 5G signals and the viral pandemic. There is no peer-reviewed scientific…

Do COVID-19 vaccines contain the Marburg virus, a severe and often fatal illness in humans? No, that's not true: Each vaccine has its unique formulation, but none include the Marburg virus. The disease is rare, usually found in Africa after a person comes in contact with an infected bat, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Lead Stories.…

Is there evidence health care providers are using lidocaine to secretly inject people with vaccines without the person's knowledge, as is suggested in a social media post by an anti-vaccine activist? No, that's not true: The suggestion is made in the "just asking questions" mode in which allegations are framed as questions to inject falsehood into public discussion. In this…

Did the World Health Organization unveil a "global police force," purportedly to arrest citizens who post independent media online? No, that's not true: Lead Stories could not find any evidence of a representative from the Organization making such a claim. The latest draft of WHO's Pandemic Agreement does not mention a "global police force." The claim appeared in an article…

Do vaccinated people emit Media Access Control addresses? No, that's not true: A professor of electrical and computer engineering told Lead Stories that the MAC addresses shown in social media posts and videos were "bluetooth technology" coming from phones and other devices like earbuds etc. The Food and Drug Administration has debunked the claim that microscopic technology is in vaccines.…

Can lipid-based supplements reverse the effects of COVID-19 vaccines by "communicating with the gene code"? No, that's not true: Two medical specialists told Lead Stories the claim is not grounded in facts. The Instagram account that made the claim promoted drops made by an unknown manufacturer. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Instagram on January 24, 2024.…

Did German scientists uncover evidence that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine batches in the European Union included placebos? No, that's not true: Germany's federal institute for vaccines and biomedicines and Pfizer said all batches are tested and certified. They do not include placebos. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Instagram by holistichealthandmore on January 20, 2024, under the title…

Is "divoc," which is "covid" spelled backwards, a Hebrew word that means "possession by an evil spirit"? No, that's not true: "Divoc" is not Hebrew, two experts told Lead Stories. There is a word in Hebrew that connotes an evil spirit that can possess people but that word is "dybbuk" -- which is not "covid" spelled backwards. The claim appeared…

Does a meeting about "Disease X" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, prove the existence of some sinister plan to start a pandemic intentionally? No, that's not true: The panel discussion to be led by the World Health Organization's director general can be viewed online. The planned agenda is a discussion of preparedness for the next pandemic, not…

Did COVID-19 vaccines kill 17 million people around the world during the pandemic? No, that's not true: Infectious disease experts told Lead Stories that the surge in deaths correlates with surges in coronavirus infections, not vaccination campaigns. The overwhelming majority of adverse events reported after vaccination are mild and temporary, and the benefits of vaccination in preventing severe illness and…