Misinformation & Misconceptions FAQs

Misinformation is the “false information shared by people who do not intend to mislead others”. Disinformation is “false information deliberately created and disseminated with malicious intent”. Misinformation is not new and has plagued other health efforts including the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the HIV epidemic, and the campaign against measles.

The WHO officials included the term “infodemic” to describe the ‘“overabundance” of information and false information that has arisen in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic.’ Scammers, cyber criminals, and others are taking advantage of fears and anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. False information is spread through a variety of mediums including mainstream media, social media, word of mouth, online forums, texts, and emails.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/addressing-vaccine-misinformation.html

https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/SLTTCOVIDToolkit_FINAL_508.pdf

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-misinformation-is-killing-people1/

There has been a “tsunami of persistent misinformation” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Misinformation has affected and questioned the efficacy of mask wearing, the vaccines, and other public health practices, the severity of the disease itself, and “the promise of untrusted remedies”. Currently, mis- and disinformation is fueling anti-vaccination rhetoric and conspiracy theories about the vaccine, leading to an increase in vaccine hesitant or resistant individuals.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health identified ways to deal with false information:

If you see false information online:

• Don’t repeat or retweet the lie, even with a correction!
• If you don’t know the source or know if the source is legitimate, limit direct engagement.
• Report it to social media companies.
• Provide true information.

If you must engage with people who believe false information:

• Engage respectfully.
• Connect along common values.
• Talk about tactics and how misinformation draws you in.
• Discuss alternative explanations.
• Encourage verification.
• Provide alternative sources.

Source:
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/meeting-covid-19-misinformation-and-disinformation-head-on

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) considers asking some questions while evaluating any online health information:

• Who manages this information
• What is the original source of this information posted
• How is information reviewed before it is posted

Some red flags for evaluating health information listed by UC San Francisco include:

• The information is anonymous
• There is a conflict of interest
• The information is one-sided or biased
• The information is outdated
• There is a claim of a miracle or secret cure
• No evidence is cited
• The grammar is poor and words are misspelled

If you have accidentally shared inaccurate information online, you should self-correct yourself by deleting the original post or statement, and creating a new post (or whatever medium you communicated on) with the accurate information. You can also update your original post with the correction, though people may not see it on their feed).

For more information about combating misinformation please visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/evalwebs.htm

https://vaccineinformation.org/internet-immunization-info/

https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/evaluating-health-information

https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=580

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-avoid-misinformation-about-covid-19-180974615

No. The FDA has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice and skin conditions like rosacea. Taking it in large doses is dangerous. Currently available data do not show ivermectin is effective against COVID-19.

If your health care provider writes you an ivermectin prescription, fill it through a legitimate source such as a pharmacy, and take it exactly as prescribed. People are purchasing various highly concentrated animal ivermectin drug formulations such as “pour-on,” injectable, paste, and “drench” that are intended for horses, cattle, and sheep, and taking these drugs has made some people very sick. Never use medications intended for animals on yourself or other people. Animal ivermectin products are very different from those approved for humans. Use of animal ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans is dangerous.

The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, and practice prevention methods such as mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.

Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-august-31-2021

No, the CO2 escapes into the air through cloth and surgical masks when you breathe out or talk. The CO2 molecules are small enough to easily pass through the mask material, whereas the respiratory droplets carrying the COVID-19 virus are much larger and cannot pass through when masks are properly designed and worn.

Healthcare providers have worn masks for extended periods of time with no adverse health reactions. If you feel uncomfortable in your mask, MayoClinic recommends limiting talking and breathing through your nose, as these will reduce the mask’s humidity level.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

The COVID-19 virus can survive in hot and humid conditions and cannot be killed with cold weather or snow. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, and practice prevention methods such as mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.

Sources:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters#climate

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters#cold-weather

No, COVID-19 is not spread by 5G. Avoiding exposure to or use of 5G mobile networks does not prevent infection with COVID-19. The virus cannot be transmitted or spread via radio waves and mobile networks. Additionally, many countries where the virus is spreading lack 5G mobile networks.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth or nose.

Sources:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters#5g

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-myths/art-20485720

No, drinking methanol, ethanol, or bleach does NOT prevent or cure COVID-19. These substances are poisonous and drinking them can lead to disability and death. Although these substances are used in cleaning products to kill viruses on surfaces, they will not kill the virus in your body and will harm your internal organs.

The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, and practice prevention methods such as mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.

Source:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters#methanol

No, spraying yourself with bleach or disinfectant does not protect you against COVID-19.

Do not under any circumstance spray or introduce bleach or any other disinfectant into your body. These substances can be poisonous if ingested and cause irritation and damage to your skin and eyes.Bleach and disinfectant should be used carefully to disinfect surfaces only. Remember to keep chlorine (bleach) and other disinfectants out of reach of children.

The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, and practice prevention methods such as mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.

Source:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters#methanol

Yes. mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech (recently known as Comirnaty) and Moderna, may work differently from other types of vaccines, however they still trigger an immune response inside your body. The research and development for mRNA vaccines have been under way for decades, and have been studied for flu, Zika, rabies and cancer research.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. The COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain microchips. Vaccines are administered to help fight disease by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies and develop immunity without getting the disease first. Vaccines are not administered to track your movement.

Learn more about the ingredients used in the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for us in the U.S.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will not make you or your injection site (usually your arm) magnetic. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metal and do not contain ingredients that produce an electromagnetic field at the site of your injection.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. Viral shedding is the process by which vaccine components are released or discharged in or outside the body. Vaccine shedding can ONLY occur when the vaccine contains a weakened version of the virus. None of the U.S. authorized COVID-19 vaccines, which use mRNA and viral vector vaccine technology, contain the live virus.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

Yes. Currently no evidence shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men. COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for everyone 12 years and older, including those trying to get pregnant or might become pregnant in the future, including their partners.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change, alter, or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The genetic material never enters the nucleus of the cell, where the DNA is kept.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. None of the U.S. authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests. Viral tests, administered via nasal or throat swabs, or with saliva, are used to determine if you have a current or active infection.

If your body develops an immune response, you may test positive on antibody tests, or serological tests. Antibody tests, administered via finger prick or blood draw, are used to determine past infection and may indicate a previous level of protection against the virus.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. None of the U.S. authorized COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. During this process, sometimes symptoms such as fever, arise. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body’s building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. Your menstrual cycle cannot be affected by being near someone who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

There are many factors that may affect menstrual cycles which include but are not limited to stress, changes in your schedule, sleep problems, changes in diet and exercise, and infection or illness.

Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S.contain fetal tissue of fetal cells.

Pfizer and Moderna used fetal cell lines for laboratory testing before their vaccines were tested on people. Johnson & Johnson used a fetal cell line during the development, testing, and production of their COVID-19 vaccine. The fetal cell lines were created in laboratories from cells of 2 abortions conducted in 1973 and 1985. None of the fetal cells came from recent abortions or from an aborition done for the sole purpose of vaccine development and research.

The Catholic Church has reviewed the use of fetal cells for this purpose and have stated “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.”

If you would like more information, please review the document “COVID-19 Vaccine and Fetal Cell Lines” so that you can make an informed decision.

A comprehensive list of COVID-19 vaccines in development and any connection to abortion-derived cell lines is available.

Source:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/about/FAQ-Vaccine.pdf