By Debbie Coffey
I’ve been reading many claims about Covid-19 and Covid vaccines in articles online, and as a researcher, I’ve found that the SOURCES for these claims or information are either entirely missing or not verifiable. Some claims seem to “cherry-pick” information, omit the “fine print” and skew any actual data that might be provided.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE CLAIMS I HAVE READ ONLINE, AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT THEM:
THE CLAIM: COVID-19 DOES NOT EXIST
My points about this:
- As of 8/19/21, WORLDWIDE, there have been about 210,2670,274 coronavirus cases and about 4,408,901 deaths from coronavirus. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Noting the many millions of cases and deaths, do you believe all of these were just sinus infections or hangnails that were misdiagnosed?
- There are 10-15 million doctors https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-doctors-world-ef3c66521bd289a8
and about 28 million nurses worldwide https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/06/who-says-theres-a-global-shortfall-of-5point9-million-nurses-as-world-battles-coronavirus-pandemic.html
Do you really think that all of these people would participate in a coverup?
- Many people who were skeptical about the Covid vaccine, and who got Covid, later regretted not getting the vaccine. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/covid-hospitalizations-unvaccinated-regret-1206032/
THE CLAIM: HOSPITALS ARE EMPTY
My points about this:
- As of 8/17/21, the entire state of Arkansas only has about 17 ICU beds available. 47% of adult ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.
- In Florida on 8/10/21, it was reported that “ICU’S Filling, Now 3060 COVID ICU Patients, 15,000 Hospitalized” https://bocanewsnow.com/2021/08/10/florida-icus-filling-now-3060-covid-icu-patients-15000-hospitalized/
- In Mississippi on 8/12/91, “A surge in coronavirus patients and a shortage of health-care workers and intensive care unit beds have pushed Mississippi’s hospital system to the brink of “failure,” state health officials warned Wednesday, saying drastic federal intervention was needed to help the state grapple with the thousands of new daily infections that have overwhelmed doctors and nurses. https://bocanewsnow.com/2021/08/10/florida-icus-filling-now-3060-covid-icu-patients-15000-hospitalized/
These numbers weren’t just being pulled out of a hat. You’d better hope that you don’t have a heart attack or other health problem or have to wait for an ambulance or get stuck in an emergency room or have to find another hospital miles away or have any needed surgery delayed.
THE CLAIM: COVID VACCINES CHANGE YOUR DNA
My points about this:
- Per the CDC, the “mRNA from the vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell and does not affect or interact with a person’s DNA.” More information about the vaccine can be found here.
- Reuters Fact Check addressed claims that an mRNA vaccine would genetically modify humans here and here.
THE CLAIM: COVID VACCINES CONTAIN A MICROCHIP
My points about this:
- A photo of a microchip designed by Columbia University engineers is circulating in connection with theories claiming a chip is inserted with the COVID-19 vaccine. This microchip, however, is still being tested, is not yet for human use, and has nothing to do with vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-microchip-vaccine-idUSL2N2NF0XQ
- The ingredients for each vaccine authorized for emergency use in the U.S. are publicly available. You can find the full ingredient list through Food and Drug Administration fact sheets for the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. https://www.factcheck.org/2021/05/scicheck-magnet-videos-refuel-bogus-claim-of-vaccine-microchips/
THE CLAIMS: Posts claim there are more deaths following Covid vaccines than are reported on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), run by the CDC and FDA.
My points about this:
- The CDC website states, “Reports of adverse events to VAERS following vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem.”
- The FDA requires healthcare providers to report any death after COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS, even if it’s unclear whether the vaccine was the cause.
Investigative reporter Kris Pickel with Arizona’s Family went through thousands of death reports on the VAERS website and found apparent causes of death that included gunshots, falls, preexisting medical conditions, age, COVID-19 infections, and statements by health care providers that the deaths were not related to the vaccine but the reports were required because of timing.
Pickel also found reports of unexplained deaths that happened sometimes within hours of a shot, heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and reports from family members who say their loved ones were healthy but passed away within weeks, days, or sometimes hours of getting a vaccine. https://www.azfamily.com/news/continuing_coverage/coronavirus_coverage/vaccine_headquarters/twisting-information-to-link-covid-19-vaccines-and-deaths/article_49d8a66e-feeb-11eb-b9be-4f3e1bc74210.html
These articles explain how data from VAERS has been cherry picked and skewed:
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-vaers-12000-idUSL1N2P21DB
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-vaers-9318-idUSL1N2P21CV
It is important to know the SOURCES of any claims made online, about any topic.
Below are links to some articles regarding what may possibly be misinformation online about Covid-19 and Covid vaccines.
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/covid-19-disinformation
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-false-covid-claims-doctors-idUSKBN28S2DX
