Fake News, Misinformation & Disinformation: Mis and Disinformation Examples

Common misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines:

Vaccine Myth

I’m vaccinated. So I can drop all my COVID precautions, right?

Answer:

Studies have shown that a person infected with the Delta variant of COVID has roughly 1,000 times more copies of the virus in their respiratory tracts than a person infected with the original strain.—CDC, Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science

Vaccine Myth #2

The COVID vaccines can affect a woman’s fertility.

Answer:

This rumor started after a report claimed inaccurately, yet circulated on social media, that the SPIKE protein on this coronavirus was the same as another protein called syncytin-1 that is involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. It was quickly debunked as false by the scientific community.—STAT News, Shattering the Infertility Myth

Most, D. (2021, August 13). Myths vs. Facts: Making Sense of COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation. Boston University. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/myths-vs-facts-covid-19-vaccine/