Misinformation - Covid-19

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Our goal is to stop the spread of misinformation by advocating for facts, science, and vaccines. Join us in the fight.

Scientists Fight a New Source of Vaccine Misinformation: Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers quarterback, one of the most visible athletes in the country, last week used anti-vaccination rhetoric as his reasoning for not getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online

In this report, we catalogue the top myths about a COVID-19 vaccine that have appeared in NewsGuard’s ratings of more than 6,000 news and information sites worldwide.

Conspiracy theories may seem irrational – but they fulfill a basic human need

There has been a proliferation of conspiracy theories about COVID-19 that either reject the existence of the virus altogether or question the official account of its origins, its mode of transmission, its effects and its remedies. Many of these theories are highly implausible and harmful and it has become commonplace to describe them as irrational – even delusional.

As Covid-19 Continues to Spread, So Does Misinformation About It

Doctors are exasperated by the persistence of false and misleading claims about the virus.

Even Pro-Vaccine Parents Have a lot of Questions. Here are the Answers We Found

There is a lot of misinformation for stressed parents to wade through. With vaccine trials underway for young children, we talked to doctors about what the real risks are

How to Debunk Misinformation about COVID, Vaccines and Masks

We each have more power to be a science communicator than we realize.

People Who Believe in COVID-19 Conspiracies More Likely to Catch Virus

People who believe in COVID-19 conspiracy theories are more likely to catch the virus, lose their jobs, and be socially isolated, according to a new study published in Psychological Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal by Cambridge University Press.

The 6 biggest Covid-related myths we've seen, busted

... we break down six of the biggest myths we've seen in order to set the record straight.

Health Workers Are Going Viral on TikTok for Debunking COVID-19 Myths

TikTok misinformation is unique in its reach among the very young, who comprise the majority of its user base. Despite the fact that young adults are less likely to get severe COVID-19 disease, stopping the spread of the virus among this demographic is essential to limit the damage done by the pandemic.

Mythbusters

Advice from WHO.

HEALTH Advocates Fight Covid-19 Vaccine Concerns Among Agricultural Workers

Heavily Latino workforce is highly vulnerable to the coronavirus yet often reluctant to get vaccinated.

Coronavirus Doctors Battle Another Scourge: Misinformation

Physicians say they regularly treat people more inclined to believe what they read on Facebook than what a medical professional tells them.

Coronavirus misinformation is a global issue, but which myth you fall for likely depends on where you live

Usually, misinformation is focused on specific regions and topics. But COVID-19 is different. For what seems like the first time, both misinformation and fact-checking behaviours are coordinated around a common set of narratives the world over.

Coronavirus misinformation, and how scientists can help to fight it

Bogus remedies, myths and fake news about COVID-19 can cost lives. Here’s how some scientists are fighting back.

Coronavirus, ‘Plandemic’ and the seven traits of conspiratorial thinking

The conspiracy theory video “Plandemic” recently went viral. Despite being taken down by YouTube and Facebook, it continues to get uploaded and viewed millions of times. The video is an interview with conspiracy theorist Judy Mikovits, a disgraced former virology researcher who believes the COVID-19 pandemic is based on vast deception, with the purpose of profiting from selling vaccinations.

COVID-19 myths and facts

As we transition back to an in-person campus environment it is time to address some common misconceptions regarding COVID-19.

Debunking the Myths and Misinformation on COVID-19

What is some of the misinformation being spread about COVID-19? Let’s check the myths and facts.

Do people believe Covid myths?

Misinformation could be causing real harm in the community.

Fact check: Debunking 10 myths about the coronavirus that causes COVID-19

As the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spreads across the globe, so does misinformation about it. Here’s a look at 10 claims about the virus, along with the facts from trusted sources.

Few Facts, Millions Of Clicks: Fearmongering Vaccine Stories Go Viral Online

The odds of dying after getting a COVID-19 vaccine are virtually nonexistent. According to recent data from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, you're three times more likely to get struck by lightning. But you might not know that from looking at your social media feed.

Four experts investigate how the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory began

In times of crisis conspiracy theories can spread as fast as a virus. As the coronavirus pandemic tightened its grip on a world which struggled to comprehend the enormity of the situation it was facing, darker forces were concocting their own narratives.

Health Workers Are Going Viral on TikTok for Debunking COVID-19 Myths

Since the start of the pandemic, misinformation of the sort debunked by McSweeney has mushroomed across TikTok, spreading rapidly thanks to an algorithm that has allowed misleading videos to rack up thousands of views before the app can remove them. Many of these videos are as simple as an individual talking to their video camera about some false fact, but they can take off—perhaps because fiction is (usually) stranger than the truth; a convoluted conspiracy theory involving the government and global billionaires can be far more compelling than the straightforward reality that a vaccine is safe and effective.

How Pediatricians Are Fending Off Coronavirus Myths

As with other aspects of the pandemic, there are parents at both extremes, those who are newly fearful of vaccines, and others who are desperate for an immediate Covid vaccine. Dr. Swanson cited the recent encouraging data from Pfizer about the effectiveness of the vaccine in development, but also the need to remind parents that this progress “needs to be carefully reviewed by scientists, placed in context, put into the greater cookbook.”

Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Shows

Researchers have found just 12 people are responsible for the bulk of the misleading claims and outright lies about COVID-19 vaccines that proliferate on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Men Seem to Endorse COVID Conspiracies More Than Women. Why?

It's worrying when you consider that men are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than women.

Myth vs. reality: the truth about COVID-19 and pregnancy

Experts debunk common misconceptions about how the virus affects expecting mothers.

Myths vs. Facts COVID-19 Vaccine

Curious about COVID-19 vaccines, their safety, and efficacy? Educate yourself by reading what is a myth, and what is a fact, about COVID-19 vaccines.

Shattering the infertility myth: What we know about Covid-19 vaccines and pregnancy

During trying times, myths and falsehoods sprout like mushrooms after rainfall. One of many that has emerged so far during the Covid-19 pandemic is that vaccines against the disease will cause infertility in women. It won’t.

Taiwan is using humor as a tool against coronavirus hoaxes

Speaking at the TED conference this week, Taiwan’s digital minister Audrey Tang explained how a tactic called “humor over rumor” has effectively quashed misinformation about Covid-19.

The COVID-19 Vaccine: Myths vs. Facts

Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation surrounding the vaccines and their development. When deciding whether to get the vaccine, it’s important to separate myths from facts.

The False Rumors About Vaccines That Are Scaring Women

We don’t know everything about Covid-19, but getting immunized is still the best way to protect your health.

The Life Cycle Of A COVID-19 Vaccine Lie

Misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines can appear almost anywhere: from an uncle's Facebook post to a well-trusted news commentator. But where does it come from, and why do some myths spread further than others?

The myth of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Covid vaccines: Why false perceptions overlook facts, and could breed resentment

That’s a message Ryan and other public health officials are trying to deliver to everyone — but it’s not necessarily one that is being well-received. News coverage and social media posts about clinical trial results are creating a hierarchy of Covid vaccines in the minds of much of the public: “good vaccines” and “bad vaccines.” The former you might try to seek out; the latter might even prompt you to step out of line. That, health officials say, is a problem.

Viral thoughts: Why COVID-19 conspiracy theories persist

As the world struggles to break the grip of COVID-19, psychologists and misinformation experts are studying why the pandemic spawned so many conspiracy theories, which have led people to eschew masks, social distancing and vaccines. They’re seeing links between beliefs in COVID-19 falsehoods and the reliance on social media as a source of news and information. And they’re concluding COVID-19 conspiracy theories persist by providing a false sense of empowerment.

Busting Covid-19 Myths with a TikTok-Famous Immunologist

Morgan McSweeney, or “Dr. Noc,” has been researching the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

14 coronavirus myths busted by science

As the novel coronavirus continues to infect people around the world, news articles and social media posts about the outbreak continue to spread online. Unfortunately, this relentless flood of information can make it difficult to separate fact from fiction — and during a viral outbreak, rumors and misinformation can be dangerous.

5 COVID-19 Myths That Are Still Circulating

Even though so many lives have been lost and so many people have been affected by COVID-19, there are still myths out there that downplay the seriousness of this virus.

5 COVID-19 Vaccine Myths to Dispel When Encouraging Your Loved Ones to Get It

As misinformation surrounding COVID-19 began to spread last year, the anti-vaccine movement gained traction with groups who believe the pandemic is a scam and that COVID-19 vaccines will make people sick, according to the New York Times. However, it is important to understand the distinction between being anti-vaccine and vaccine hesitant — and to find ways to foster open conversations.

7 Myths About the Coronavirus Vaccine

Don’t be fooled by bad information or irrational skepticism. Get your shots as soon as possible.

CDC

Accurate vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors. It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Before considering vaccine information on the Internet, check that the information comes from a credible source and is updated on a regular basis.