After a long delay marred by manufacturing troubles, a COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax became the fourth such vaccine authorized in the U.S. We review how it works and how it’s different from its competitors.
A Guide to Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine
Stories by Jessica McDonald
SciCheck Editor
COVID-19 Vaccination Increases Immunity, Contrary to Immune Suppression Claims
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines teach the immune system to recognize and fight the coronavirus, greatly reducing the likelihood of severe disease if a person is infected. There is no evidence the vaccines impair immunity, as some, including Fox News’ Tucker Carlson, have baselessly claimed.
Posts Misleadingly Omit Critical Data Supporting COVID-19 Vaccines for Youngest Kids
In young children, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are expected to primarily protect against severe disease. Both shots successfully met the set benchmarks for vaccine effectiveness, which involved comparing antibody responses to those of adults. Online posts critical of government recommendations for the pediatric vaccines, however, fail to mention these essential data.
Georgia Senate Candidate Herschel Walker Spouts Inaccurate ‘Bad Air’ Theory of Climate Change
In speaking about the Green New Deal, Herschel Walker, the former professional football player vying for a Senate seat in Georgia, incorrectly suggested that U.S. climate efforts were pointless because “China’s bad air” would simply move over into American “air space.”
A Guide to COVID-19 Vaccines for the Youngest Kids
Children under 5, including those as young as 6 months of age, are now able to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Here, we explain what’s known about the two coronavirus vaccines for the youngest children.
COVID-19 Vaccines Don’t Contain Fetal Tissue
Despite persistent claims to the contrary, none of the three authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines contains fetal tissue. We take a look at the facts in light of Justice Clarence Thomas’ dissent.
Social Media Swirls With Unsupported Claims About Cause of Justin and Hailey Bieber’s Medical Conditions
Pop star Justin Bieber announced he has Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a form of facial paralysis caused by a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. Social media posts have claimed his condition was caused by COVID-19 vaccination, but there is no established link between vaccination and the syndrome. Some posts have also baselessly claimed vaccination was behind a mini-stroke suffered by Bieber’s wife, Hailey.
Vaccinated People Not More Susceptible to COVID-19 Than Unvaccinated
Q. Are vaccinated and boosted people more susceptible to infection or disease with the omicron variant than unvaccinated people?
A. No. Getting vaccinated increases your protection against COVID-19. Sometimes, certain raw data can suggest otherwise, but that information cannot be used to determine how well a vaccine works.
Ask SciCheck Files: The Relationship Between Mental Health and Mass Shootings
In the wake of mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, some officials have cited mental illness as a reason for the unprovoked attacks. But as we’ve explained before, having a mental illness isn’t predictive of who will perpetrate a mass shooting.
Q&A on Monkeypox
We explain what monkeypox is, what makes the outbreak unusual, and why it’s important to take seriously but unlikely to play out like the coronavirus.