Is a meme correct in implying vaccination ("the shot") is not working to prevent COVID-19? No, that's not true: Since it uses an image of a comedian's fictional rapper character, "Ali G," it may be satire. But the apparent reference to vaccinated people still getting sick ignores the fact that the point of vaccination campaigns is to sharply limit the…

Did the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David H. Berger, reject Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin's announcement that COVID-19 vaccinations will soon be a requirement for all service members, saying, "There will be no mandatory vaccinations for my Marines"? No, that's not true: This is a fictional story from a satire website, realrawnews.com. A disclaimer can be found…

Was a trip to Israel by the CEO of Pfizer canceled "because he was not vaccinated"? No, that's not true: Albert Bourla canceled his trip because while he had had his first shot, he was still waiting for the second shot of the two-step Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, which he received on March 10, 2021. The false claim was made almost…

Is natural immunity "far superior" to COVID-19 vaccines? No, that's not true: Published data show that contracting COVID-19 when unvaccinated can be very dangerous and deadly while getting a vaccine can greatly reduce or prevent serious illness or death of patients who contract COVID-19 after having been vaccinated. The claim appeared as a post (archived here) where it was published…

Did the U.S. military arrest entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates on July 27, 2021? No, that's not true: The claim was posted on a known satire website. Also, Gates' social media accounts were active in the days following the purported arrest. The claim appeared in an article (archived here) published by Real Raw News on August 1, 2021. It opened:…

Have scientists confirmed that most of those vaccinated against COVID-19 will die soon? No, that's not true: There's no evidence the vaccines will cause widespread deaths. In fact, scientists almost universally agree that the shots will do the opposite -- that they will help prevent deaths that otherwise would have been caused by the virus. The claim appeared in a…

Is "The Great Reset" a secret plan masterminded by global elites to limit freedoms and push radical policies? No, that's not true: It's the name of a public policy initiative the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The phrase has been hijacked by conspiracy theorists who believe an evil cabal is using the pandemic as…

Did the headline on this Facebook post correctly describe a draft report about the effect of lockdowns on the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. and other countries? No, that's not true: The paper is, by its own wording, still a working draft and has not yet been subjected to professional peer review. That's the customary process through which the…

Did Chelsea Clinton tweet about Bill Gates with, "What kind of man pursues a physical relationship with an underling and has relations with her in their office???"? No, that's not true: The tweet is fake; it does not show up on her verified Twitter account. The claim originated in a Facebook post (archived here) published on May 19, 2021. As…

Is Joe Biden not in charge and is the military in control of the White House? No, that's not true. Biden is the president of the United States per the U.S. Constitution Article 20. The military is not in charge of the White House, and the president is the commander in chief of the military according to Article 2 Section…