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Released: 21-Jan-2022 3:05 PM EST
CDC Director was referring to vaccinated people when she mentioned 75% of COVID deaths were among those with at least four comorbidities
Newswise

Welensky did not say 75% percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. had at least four comorbidities. The shared social media posts imply that deaths from COVID-19 are being over-counted. We find this claim to be misleading, having taken Walensky's interview out of context. It is clear from watching the full clip, Dr. Welensky was referring to the percentage of fully vaccinated people who died from COVID-19.

Released: 14-Jan-2022 2:05 PM EST
Pfizer CEO was referring to the omicron variant when he said that two doses of their vaccine offer "limited protection"
Newswise

An interview with Pfizer CEO Bourla is being used as proof that the initial vaccinations were “a failure” or that the vaccine does not protect against COVID-19. We find claims that represent this interview as proof of vaccine failure are false and misleading. Bourla's comments were specific about Omicron.

Released: 7-Jan-2022 3:15 PM EST
There is evidence that the vaccines work against the Omicron variant to some degree, despite claim made by columnist
Newswise

There is growing evidence that the currently available MRNA vaccines provide some protection against the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of the SARS-COV-2 virus, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. According to the CDC, preliminary results for Omicron from South Africa showed that the Pfizer vaccine provided 70% protection against COVID-19 hospitalization and 33% against infection, during the current Omicron wave. Granted, the protection is reduced compared with the Delta variant (93% for hospitalization and 80% for infection).

Released: 27-Dec-2021 1:05 PM EST
Vaccines have not killed "twice as many kids" as those that were killed by COVID
Newswise

In a widely shared newsletter, Steve Kirsch, a man who promotes himself as an entrepreneur and technology expert, stated that "they've now killed close to twice as many kids from the vaccine as have died from COVID." He's also repeated this claim in an interview on The New American, a conservative news site. We find this claim false. There is no confirmed evidence of a COVID-19 vaccine causing the death of even one child.

Released: 20-Dec-2021 4:20 PM EST
To say "climate change applies to any change in the weather" is false
Newswise

"Climate change applies to any change in the weather. If it rains, it's climate change, if there is a storm, it's climate change. Record snowfall? Climate change," says a widely shared tweet. We find this claim as false. Weather and climate are two different things.

Released: 17-Dec-2021 4:00 PM EST
Claim that masks trap dangerous levels of carbon dioxide is false
Newswise

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends to wear a mask indoors to "reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, including alpha and delta variants, among adults and children." Several studies have proven the effectiveness of masks in limiting the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. However, this hasn't stopped some people from claiming that masks are hurting children that are forced to wear them in schools.

Released: 10-Dec-2021 4:05 PM EST
Headlines about a "concerning" asteroid that will "skim" Earth on Saturday are not giving us an accurate picture
Newswise

"NASA says huge, 'potentially hazardous' asteroid will break into Earth's orbit next week" reads a headline from The Hill posted on December 1st. "ROCKY HORROR: Giant asteroid will skim Earth’s orbit tomorrow in hair-raising near miss" reads another headline posted on December 9th in The Sun (UK). These are some of the many headlines describing 4660 Nereus, an asteroid that is around 1,083-feet long (330-meter), will come within 2.4 million miles (3.9 million km) of Earth, still about 10 times farther away than the moon.

Released: 3-Dec-2021 3:45 PM EST
Claim that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are global superspreaders of the new omicron variant is misleading
Newswise

Kim Iversen, a popular political talk show host with over 27K followers on Twitter, claimed that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are global superspreaders of the new omicron variant. “I can’t believe that after fully vaccinated travelers have been found to be the global spreaders of the omicron variant, we’re STILL talking about forcing people into being vaccinated,” she wrote on Twitter. We find this claim to be misleading. There is very little data on how the new variant is being spread.

Released: 24-Nov-2021 2:05 PM EST
The claim that "Greenland's ice sheet isn't shrinking any more rapidly today than it was 80 years ago" is false
Newswise

Steven Koonin, former Undersecretary for Science in the Obama Administration says that the media is exaggerating the climate crisis. In a recent video for Prager U, Koonin offered several statements that address flooding, hurricanes and the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. We address the claim that "Greenland's ice sheet isn't shrinking any more rapidly today than it was 80 years ago." Our analysis: this claim is mostly false.

Released: 22-Nov-2021 9:00 AM EST
Success of ivermectin in preventing COVID-19 in India has not been proven
Newswise

While cases appear to have fallen in Uttar Pradesh as well as most locations in India, it’s not clear why. Many other factors, including immunity from a previous infection, vaccination, and lockdowns, likely helped reduce the number of cases.

Released: 12-Nov-2021 3:45 PM EST
Austria will impose a nationwide lockdown for people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Will it be the first country in the world to do so? Not entirely.
Newswise

Austria will impose a nationwide lockdown for people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Will it be the first country in the world to do so? Not entirely.

Released: 4-Nov-2021 8:50 AM EDT
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is not being taught in K-12 schools, but that didn't stop Virginia Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin from vowing to ban it
Newswise

"There is a significant effort to frame CRT as a Red Herring in the political race leading up to the 2022 election season. In order to protect the public interest of schooling and the credibility of the teaching profession, it’s really important for people to actually research the issues and learn from multiple, trust-worthy, and verified sources (not just social media or their immediate friend groups)," says Prof Rebecca Jacobsen of Michigan State University.

Released: 28-Oct-2021 4:50 PM EDT
Senator Tim Scott's claim that the IRS will monitor private bank accounts is not accurate
University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Based on the last version of the Biden plan, Tim Scott's comments were not entirely accurate. The only accounts that would be subject to the reporting requirement would be where the total deposits exceed $10,000 after taking out of the equation W-2 wages and government benefits, e.g., social security payments.

   
Released: 27-Oct-2021 3:00 PM EDT
The EcoHealth Alliance experiments have nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic
Newswise

There is no evidence that Fauci knowingly gave false information when asked about the NIH funding of " gain-of-function research" when it comes to the coronavirus. In fact, the letter itself notes that the viruses used in the experiments are “decades removed from SARS-CoV-2 evolutionarily” and that they “could not have been the source of SARS-CoV-2.”

   
Released: 21-Oct-2021 8:50 AM EDT
It isn't accurate to talk about the supply chain problems we are facing in terms of "this administration" or "that administration"
University of California, Irvine

Supply chains problems were in existence for years before the start of Joe Biden's presidency. Prices of containers and pallets, and other myriad corporate choices, have led to the current crisis.

   
Released: 19-Oct-2021 5:05 PM EDT
The problems with supply chains did not just start when President Biden took office
Newswise

In response to the continued supply chain woes people are feeling around the globe, Texas congressman Lance Gooden tweeted, "The United States didn't have a supply chain crisis until Joe Biden became president."

   
Released: 19-Oct-2021 5:05 PM EDT
The claim that supply chain problems started with the Biden presidency is off the mark
Northern Arizona University

Today's supply chain problems are the result of long-term changes to manufacturing and supply chain management and short-term issues related to COVID, the economy and governmental action.

   
Released: 12-Oct-2021 3:00 PM EDT
The claim that Southwest Airline cancellations are ‘a direct consequence’ of federal vaccine mandate is not supported
Newswise

Tucker Carlson claimed the cancellation of thousands of flights by Southwest Airlines was “a direct consequence” of the Biden administration’s vaccination mandate for federal workers. Disruptions to Southwest flights began shortly after the airline’s pilots association asked a federal court to block the airline’s own vaccine mandate. The "vaccine mandate" issued by the Biden administration only pertains to Federal agencies, not privately owned corporations. The claim that the cancellations were due directly to a federal mandate on COVID-19 vaccinations is unsupported.

   
Released: 6-Oct-2021 3:30 PM EDT
The claim that questions the efficacy of the COVID vaccine by comparing it with the influenza vaccine is off the mark
Newswise

A meme widely shared on Facebook shows a picture of Bill Gates holding a needle with his face painted like the supervillain “The Joker” and says, “Do you honestly believe that in 70 years of research and development we have a 40% effective flu shot but in 10 months a 95% effective Rona shot?” Comparing the efficacy of the vaccines suggest they both inoculate patients from the same virus. The viruses are different, and comparing the efficacy of the vaccines is misleading.

Released: 30-Sep-2021 2:15 PM EDT
Doctor who claims that there's a significant uptick in cancers in vaccinated people offers no supported evidence
Newswise

An article published by LifeSiteNews claiming that an Idaho doctor observed a 20-fold increase in cancer occurring in people who had received the COVID-19 vaccine supports no evidence.

Released: 27-Sep-2021 12:05 PM EDT
Anonymous “Spartacus” COVID Letter Riddled with Misinformation, Baseless Claims about Global Conspiracy
Newswise

In the early hours of Monday, September 27, 2021, an anonymous letter purporting to be from a health expert began trending on social media. The so-called “Spartacus” letter, posted here among other websites of questionable credibility, contains numerous baseless claims buried within over 40 pages of analysis which appears to have been carefully crafted to mask the dubious nature of the letter’s origin and the unfounded nature of many of the author’s allegations.

   
Released: 23-Sep-2021 12:45 PM EDT
Bolsonaro claims about his environmental protection record at the U.N. General Assembly meeting stretch the truth
Newswise

President Bolsonaro of Brazil was the first head of state to address this year's UN General Assembly in New York. At one point of his speech, Bolsonaro spoke about the progress Brazil is making in terms of environmental conservation, particularly the Amazon rain forest. In his comments on the environment, we find his claim to be misleading.

Released: 15-Sep-2021 12:40 PM EDT
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing asymptomatic infection
Clemson University

While it is true that the vaccines are effective at prevention of serious illness, many studies show that they are also effective at preventing asymptomatic infection. That is, vaccines are effective at preventing you from catching COVID-19, and therefore reduce the risk that you transmit to others.

Released: 15-Sep-2021 12:00 PM EDT
COVID vaccines do not impact male fertility, nor do they cause swollen testicles, as suggested by Niki Minaj
Newswise

World-renown rap star Nicki Minaj tweeted about Covid-19 vaccination during the 2021 Met Gala (she did not attend since she is not vaccinated). She suggested that getting a COVID-19 vaccine will cause male impotence and swollen testicles.

Released: 14-Sep-2021 8:45 AM EDT
Florida Governor Makes Misleading Claim About COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunity
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

"These mandates, this is not about science," the Republican governor said during a press conference in Alachua County. "Because if it was about science, you would recognize the infection conferred immunity."

Released: 8-Sep-2021 5:00 PM EDT
The jury is still out on the effectiveness of ivermectin in treating COVID-19, despite claims that it works or that it's useless
Newswise

Ivermectin is used to fight worms and other parasites in animals and humans. But some people are taking it to treat COVID-19, despite warnings from experts and poisonings tied to the drug.

Released: 1-Sep-2021 12:00 PM EDT
Contrary to Online Video's Claim, Masks Are Effective at Reducing the Spread of COVID-19
Newswise

Dr. Julie Swann, A. Doug Allison Distinguished Professor and Department Head at NC State University debunks the claim that face masks can't block viruses such as COVID-19.

Released: 26-Aug-2021 1:45 PM EDT
Claim that the first COVID-19 vaccine that was approved by the FDA is somehow different than the "Pfizer vaccine" currently available is misleading
Newswise

In the podcast and video show “War Room” hosted by Steve Bannon, Dr. Robert Malone claimed that the "mainstream media is lying" and suggested that the vaccine that was approved by the FDA is somehow different than the "Pfizer vaccine" currently available under emergency use authorization.

Released: 4-Aug-2021 4:00 PM EDT
CDC withdrawing its request for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test does not mean the test failed
Newswise

Social media is now rife with claims about why the CDC is withdrawing its request for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test after December 2021.

Released: 7-Jul-2021 3:20 PM EDT
Study does not determine COVID vaccines kill 2 for every 3 they save
Newswise

A study is misinterpreted to convey that the COVID vaccines kill 2 people for every three that are saved, despite the study being under serious scrutiny.

Released: 1-Jul-2021 3:05 PM EDT
The approved coronavirus vaccines do not contain metals and are not magnetic
Newswise

All three coronavirus vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States are free from metals.

Released: 25-May-2021 3:00 PM EDT
Debunking the claim that vaccines cause new COVID-19 variants
Newswise

In an interview in the French documentary "Hold-Up," Luc Montagnier, a French virologist and recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), claimed that Covid-19 vaccines are creating new variants in various parts of the world. He believes that the ongoing vaccinations across the world is an ”enormous mistake.” ”The history books will show that because it is the vaccination that is creating the variants.” Multiple French social media posts that have been shared by thousands have also claimed that COVID-19 vaccines are causing variants of the virus to emerge. We find these claims to be false. There is no evidence the vaccines are creating more variants.

Released: 21-May-2021 12:00 PM EDT
Are businesses violating HIPAA if they ask their patrons if they've been vaccinated? No.
Newswise

As business rework their mask requirements such as lifting face mask requirements for customers who are vaccinated against COVID-19, questions about medical privacy are back in the spotlight. The question of whether it's okay to ask a maskless patron if they've been vaccinated has come into focus. Vaccine opponents, including members of the U.S. Congress, are once again claiming that the HIPAA federal privacy law protects individuals from being asked about their vaccination status. We find this claim to be false.

     
Released: 7-May-2021 1:40 PM EDT
There is no evidence that vaccines could cause harm to people who have recovered from COVID-19
Newswise

An article published by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccination organization and widely shared on social media questions the need of vaccinating those who’ve already recovered from COVID-19. The article says there’s a "potential risk of harm, including death" in getting the vaccines. We report this claim as false. There is no evidence that vaccinating people who had previously had COVID is resulting in an increased risk of adverse events.

Released: 29-Apr-2021 1:05 PM EDT
The claim made by leaders of Miami school that vaccinated teachers can negatively affect non-vaccinated staff and students is completely false
Newswise

There is no evidence any vaccinated people may be transmitting something from their bodies to non-vaccinated people.

Released: 22-Apr-2021 4:05 PM EDT
Claims That Masks Are Irrelevant Put People at Risk
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

The claim that you don’t have to wear a mask after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has been circulating on social media and told by conservative media pundits such as Tucker Carlson and Rep. Jim Jordan.

Released: 30-Mar-2021 2:40 PM EDT
Texan doctor baselessly claims that the mRNA vaccines aren’t actually vaccines at all
Newswise

A Texas doctor, in a widely shared video, falsely claims the vaccines don’t provide protection and that they’re actually “experimental gene therapy.”

Released: 24-Mar-2021 1:35 PM EDT
Opinion Piece on Lockdowns Misinterprets Data
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

A recent opinion piece in the NY Post ignores evidence supporting the effectiveness of lockdowns.

Released: 24-Mar-2021 9:20 AM EDT
The claim that lockdowns end more lives than they save is misleading
University of Bristol

Dr Howard H.Z. Thom of the University of Bristol says it is grossly misleading to attribute the 1 million excess deaths solely to response.

   
Released: 19-Mar-2021 2:00 PM EDT
The Claim That U.S. Has Seen a Surge in Hate Crimes Against Asian People During the COVID-19 Pandemic Is True
Newswise

A study published in March 2021 by California State University, San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found that hate crimes reported to police departments in the 16 largest U.S. cities in 2020 increased by 149%.

Released: 4-Mar-2021 8:05 AM EST
COVID vaccines aren't 'gene therapy'
University of California, Irvine

Fact-checking a false claim about COVID-19 vaccines

Released: 25-Feb-2021 5:50 PM EST
There Is No Data Indicating that the COVID-19 Vaccine Is Unsafe for Pregnant Women
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. Also, many women of childbearing age have increased COVID-19 exposure risks, including healthcare providers and other workers providing essential services.

Released: 22-Feb-2021 9:00 AM EST
Dr. John Balmes, Noted Clean Air Expert, Says Gov. Greg Abbott's Claims Are False
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

While frozen wind turbines underperformed during the Texas power grid failure, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) around 29,000 megawatts of thermal energy — which is sourced from coal, gas and nuclear plants — were missing from the grid.

Released: 18-Feb-2021 5:30 PM EST
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott claim blaming the state's massive power outages on renewable energy is misleading
Newswise

On Tuesday in an interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Texas Governor Greg Abbott blamed the outages on wind turbines and on the "Green New Deal." Rolling blackouts have ravaged Texas after a winter storm created a sudden spike in energy demand and hamstrung production of natural gas, coal, nuclear, and wind energy.

Released: 15-Feb-2021 2:00 PM EST
There is no credible evidence that shows a link between the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and female infertility
Newswise

Headlines going viral on Facebook and elsewhere on social media are spreading the claim that the COVID-19 vaccine could lead to infertility in women. There is currently no data to support this claim. Experts weigh in...

Released: 28-Jan-2021 1:20 PM EST
Shared video of Dr. Fauci CNN interview with added commentary sends wrong message about COVID vaccine protection
Newswise

Shared video of Dr. Fauci CNN interview with added commentary sends wrong message about COVID vaccine protection

Released: 25-Jan-2021 3:30 PM EST
News about a California man who died after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is misleading
Newswise

A Northern California man died on January 21st, several hours after receiving a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Placer County Public Health and the Placer County Sheriff's Office. It should be said that the man The man previously tested positive for the coronavirus in late December. There is no evidence that the vaccine was the cause of death.

Released: 21-Jan-2021 1:30 PM EST
Debunking Senator Ted Cruz's Claims on Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

Rejoining the Paris Agreement signals that the United States intends to do its part to cut global emissions to reduce future warming and, importantly, to reduce future losses from climate-worsened disasters for all Americans.

   
Released: 15-Jan-2021 8:55 AM EST
The First Dose of the Pfizer Vaccine Gives About 50% COVID Protection, Not 91% Claimed by Those Who Want to Speed Up Immunization
Newswise

The NEJM paper actually states that the efficacy between the first and second doses was found to be 52 percent when given 21 days apart. After the second dose, the efficacy raises to 95 percent.

Released: 5-Jan-2021 1:50 PM EST
Due to the COVID surge, ambulances in the Los Angeles area are refusing to transfer patients with no chance of survival
Newswise

As the surge of COVID-19 cases increase exponentially across the U.S., the hospitals in the Los Angeles metro area have been particularly hit hard. There are now more than 7,600 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County. Ambulance crews in the area have been advised to cut back on their use of oxygen and to not bring to hospitals patients who have virtually no chance of survival in order to increase capacity and triage care to focus on the sickest patients.


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