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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Issues: COVID-19 vaccination

Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine Formulation Tweaked to Improve Stability

Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine Formulation Tweaked to Improve Stability
November 19, 2021

With the release of its pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer switched the buffer used in its formulation to increase the stability of the product, allowing it to remain at refrigerator temperatures for longer. The Food and Drug Administration OK’d the change, which is also being made to some doses for teens and adults. Social media posts, however, misleadingly suggest that the ingredient swap is dangerous or was added to prevent heart attacks in children.

Colorado Order Addresses Surge in Hospitalizations, Not Vaccination Status

Colorado Order Addresses Surge in Hospitalizations, Not Vaccination Status
November 18, 2021

Responding to a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order on Oct. 31 allowing hospitals that are at or near capacity to transfer or stop admitting patients. Social media posts falsely claimed the order says hospitals can “refuse to treat the unvaccinated.” But the order doesn’t mention vaccination status.

Viral Posts Make Unfounded Claims After Newsom Gets COVID-19 Booster

Viral Posts Make Unfounded Claims After Newsom Gets COVID-19 Booster
November 11, 2021

After getting the COVID-19 booster on Oct. 27, California Gov. Gavin Newsom canceled a trip and did not participate in any official public events for 12 days. Social media posts claimed, without evidence, that Newsom was suffering serious side effects from the booster. But his staff denied that he had an “adverse reaction” to the shot and, during this time, he appeared twice on social media and reportedly attended a wedding.

Video Questioning Vaccine Efficacy Pushes Falsehood About Israel Data

Video Questioning Vaccine Efficacy Pushes Falsehood About Israel Data
November 10, 2021

The COVID-19 death rate for unvaccinated people has been significantly higher than for vaccinated people in both Israel and the U.S. Despite that, conservative commentator Ben Swann makes the false claim in a video that Israeli data prove vaccines aren’t effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths. But the charts he uses don’t distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

Aaron Rodgers’ Inaccurate COVID-19 Claims

Aaron Rodgers’ Inaccurate COVID-19 Claims
November 9, 2021

Aaron Rodgers, the star quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, made headlines when he contracted COVID-19 and then defended his decision not to get vaccinated with a string of false and misleading claims that fact-checkers have frequently debunked.

A Guide to Pfizer/BioNTech’s Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids 5-11

A Guide to Pfizer/BioNTech’s Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids 5-11
November 5, 2021

As with its adult vaccine, Pfizer/BioNTech was the first to cross the finish line and offer a Food and Drug Administration-authorized COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 through 11. Here, we describe how it’s different from its grown-up cousin and what experts are saying about who should get it.

Japan Continues to Use Vaccines, Not Ivermectin, to Fight COVID-19

Japan Continues to Use Vaccines, Not Ivermectin, to Fight COVID-19
November 4, 2021

More than 70% of Japan’s population has received the COVID-19 vaccines, and the government is moving ahead with a booster shot in December. But a conservative radio host in the U.S. falsely claimed, “Japan drops vax rollout, goes to Ivermectin.” Japan hasn’t stopped its vaccine program and hasn’t approved ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.

Why It’s Easy to Misinterpret Numbers of Deaths Among the Vaccinated

Why It’s Easy to Misinterpret Numbers of Deaths Among the Vaccinated
November 1, 2021

Raw numbers of hospitalizations or deaths among those who are vaccinated are not a good indicator of whether vaccines are effective. If the large majority of a population is vaccinated, it’s not surprising if most deaths are among the vaccinated. But social media posts misuse data from the U.K. to suggest the COVID-19 vaccines don’t work.

Video Spreads Bogus Claims About Plane Crashes and COVID-19 Vaccines

Video Spreads Bogus Claims About Plane Crashes and COVID-19 Vaccines
October 28, 2021

The number of U.S. plane accidents has been about the same this year as it was last year. But posts on social media falsely claim that there has been a significant increase due to pilot reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines. The Federal Aviation Administration says it has seen “no evidence of aircraft accidents or pilot incapacitations” associated with COVID-19 vaccines.