When President Joe Biden announced plans to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the end of the decade, he made no mention of reducing beef consumption. But that hasn’t stopped baseless speculation that he would.
SciCheck and Our Commitment to Transparency
Vaccines Benefit Those Who Have Had COVID-19, Contrary to Viral Posts
There is no evidence that vaccines could cause harm to people who already have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or have become ill with the disease COVID-19. On the contrary, recent studies show the vaccine gives an important immunity boost to those previously infected and suggest that one dose might be enough.
Stories Falsely Cite ‘Stanford Study’ to Misinform on Face Masks
Stanford Medicine says it “strongly supports the use of face masks to control the spread of COVID-19.” Yet viral stories falsely claim a “Stanford study” showed that face masks are unsafe and ineffective against COVID-19. The paper is a hypothesis, not a study, from someone with no current affiliation with Stanford. Update: The paper was retracted.
Q&A on the Rare Clotting Events That Caused the J&J Pause
Irish Professor Makes Unfounded Claims About Long-Term Effects of mRNA Vaccines
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines authorized for use were found to be safe and effective in clinical trials and real-world conditions. A professor in Ireland baselessly claims in a video circulating on social media that they are not, and that those who get the vaccines will die as a result within several years.
FactCheck.org Back in Contention For the Webbys
In Her Own Words: Maxine Waters
Democratic Spin on Bipartisan Support for American Jobs Plan
Idaho Doctor Makes Baseless Claims About Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines
A viral video features a doctor making dubious claims about COVID-19 vaccines and treatments at a forum hosted by Idaho’s lieutenant governor. Dr. Ryan Cole claims mRNA vaccines cause cancer and autoimmune diseases, but the lead author of the paper on which Cole based that claim told us there is no evidence mRNA vaccines cause those ailments.