Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2024-08-29 Facebook reel propagates vaccine and statin misinformation from health book author Raymond Francis Claim: Vaccines cause autism, ADHD, and cancer; statins “provide no benefit”, cause cancer and memory loss Source: Silicon Valley Health Institute, Facebook, Raymond Francis, 2015-07-16
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2024-08-22 Vitamin D3 supplements are safe for treating vitamin D deficiency; comparison to rat poison is misleading Claim: “Vitamin D3 is radiated sheep’s wool mixed with chloroform”, “Vitamin D3 IS RAT POISON !!”, “D levels are low because of lack of light and high vitamin A diets.” Source: Facebook, Evan Torrens, 2024-05-24
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2024-08-16 Facebook reel misinterprets patents for proposed therapies and vaccines as patents for viruses Claim: Patent US5676977A is for AIDS, patent US8835624B1 is for H1N1, patents US7897744B2 and US8506968B2 are for SARS Source: Facebook, Twitter, Social media users, 2024-08-01
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2024-08-09 A cancerous tumor is a mass of cancer cells, not “toxins”; biopsies and mammograms don’t cause cancer Claim: A tumor is a “bubble” of toxins from the body; "cancer is basically your friend"; biopsies and mammograms cause cancer Source: iHealthTube, YouTube, Facebook, Leonard Coldwell, 2024-07-29
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2024-08-01 Studies show vaccines don’t cause sudden infant death syndrome Claim: Vaccines cause SIDS Source: Instagram, Social media users, 2024-07-26
Partially correct Health Posted on: 2024-07-24 Activated charcoal is used to treat poisoning, but isn’t effective for all poisons and isn’t a substitute for medical attention Claim: “Charcoal absorbs and neutralizes poisons”; charcoal can treat diarrhea and bloating Source: Facebook, Barbara O'Neill, 2024-05-30
Unsupported Health Posted on: 2024-07-18 No, a study didn’t establish that tampons are toxic and cause health problems, contrary to social media posts Claim: Toxic metals in tampons are causing reproductive health problems like endometriosis and infertility Source: Threads, TikTok, Social media users, 2024-07-10
Unsupported Health Posted on: 2024-07-10 Preclinical studies cannot provide sufficient evidence that ivermectin helps treat cancer in people Claim: Cancer patients should use ivermectin to treat cancer, as it augments the effect of cancer therapies Source: Brio-Medical Cancer Center, Walter Kim, 2024-06-29
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2024-06-19 No, former WHO scientist doesn’t face death penalty for advising against using ivermectin for COVID-19 Claim: “WHO scientist faces death penalty” in India for advising against using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 Source: L’Observateur du Maroc et d’Afrique, The People’s Voice, Social media users, 2024-06-17
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2024-06-13 False claims that pandemic treaty abolishes nations’ sovereignty and allows WHO to impose health policies circulate on social media Claim: Countries that sign pandemic treaty cede their sovereignty to the WHO, allowing WHO to control domestic policies, force vaccination, lockdowns, and arrest of vaccine opponents Source: The People’s Voice, Sean Adl-Tabatabai, 2024-06-06