Vaccination

Did Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico "formally and publicly" reject the World Health Organization Global Pandemic Accord "only days" before an assassination attempt on May 15, 2024, as a post on X claimed? No, that's not true: The pandemic accord has not been finalized, a World Health Organization spokesperson told Lead Stories on May 15, 2024. Although Fico had voiced…

Did Japan declare a state of emergency over a purported increase in cancer deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines? No, that's not true: No government websites in Japan or credible news organizations published anything about the purported "emergency" in 2024. The article that made the claim failed to cite any corroborating sources. The claim originated from an article (archived here) published…

Did a video showing a man asking a city council to legalize sports gambling after he made money betting on transgender athletes capture a real-life, authentic story? No, that's not true: The man participated in the production of a comedy show hosted by a comedian known for orchestrating bizarre appearances at various public meetings. Both men spoke on the same…

Did Australian law enforcement identify a Sydney mall attacker as "Benjamin Cohen"? No, that's not true: The police said that the man's name was Joel Cauchi. The claim originated from an account on X that self-identifies as aligned with a Russian state information outlet. The story reappeared in a post (saved here) on Facebook where it was published on April…

Does a video shared on Instagram show what happens when a person is "injected" with a vaccination, thus offering evidence for detoxification supplements? No, that's not true: The video originally was posted to YouTube in 2014 by a creator who describes his videos as being for "science fiction work, personal work and play." According to the description on the 2014…

Did Japan ban COVID vaccinations over "soaring sudden deaths" in the country? No, that's not true: There is no ban. Japan, like many other countries, has actively promoted COVID-19 vaccinations as a tool in combating the spread of the virus and protecting public health. The only change in Japan's vaccination program is that starting in April, residents will need to…

Can children 5 years and older consent to vaccination under Obamacare if they can recite the alphabet? No, that's not true: Minors cannot consent to vaccination solely based on their ability to say their ABCs, regardless of the health care system. Vaccination consent typically requires informed consent from a legal guardian or parent, as children of that age are not…

Did vaccines cause an "explosion in autoimmune diseases"? No, that's not true: Only in rare cases has vaccination been associated with autoimmune diseases. Vaccines are rigorously tested for safety before being approved for use, and extensive research has shown that vaccines are not linked to an "explosion of autoimmune diseases." The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here)…

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…

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…