Let's see the latest false nonsense being pushed by anti-vaxxers. Claim: "Report finds increased risk of spontaneous abortion following COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy” after correcting “major error” in CDC study. CDC study on COVID-19 vaccination and spontaneous abortions did not contain major error https://www.politifact.com/factchec...udy-covid-19-vaccination-and-spontaneous-abo/ A report misrepresents data from a CDC study on COVID-19 vaccination and spontaneous abortions by excluding the majority of the sample to produce inflated miscarriage rate Updated follow-up data from the CDC study corroborates their original findings that there is no increased risk of spontaneous abortion or miscarriage after COVID-19 vaccination. For many months, vaccine skeptics have been sounding false alarms about the effect of COVID-19 vaccines on pregnancy and fertility. Concerns about the risk of spontaneous abortion, also known as miscarriage, have resurfaced following a November report in Science, Public Health Policy & the Law, a journal run by James Lyons-Weiler. "Report Finds Increased Risk of Spontaneous Abortion Following COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy Epidemiologists," reads the headline on a post from Lyons-Weiler, who seeks to summarize the report’s findings. "Epidemiologists Find CDC Study Contains Major Error." Lyons-Weiler, whose claims about COVID-19 we have previously fact-checked, claims in his piece that the authors of the report found a "major error" in a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June. The miscarriage rate, the authors asserted, was seven to eight times higher than the CDC study presented. The authors' calculations, however, misrepresent the CDC study findings by manipulating and cherry-picking data, using a similar method to previously circulating claims on social media about the same CDC study. The blog post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) The CDC study in question The authors of the original CDC study, titled "Preliminary Findings of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnant Persons," used data from three federal reporting systems monitoring vaccine safety. They contacted 3,958 people enrolled in one of these systems about three months after they had received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Of those people, 712 had given birth to healthy babies, 104 experienced miscarriages and one had a stillbirth. Ten people had ectopic pregnancies or induced abortions. The remaining 3,131 participants were either still pregnant or had not yet completed follow-up. They found 104 miscarriages out of 827 completed pregnancies, which divides to a 12.6% miscarriage rate — comparable with the average miscarriage rate of 12.5% to 18.7% in the general population. The purported error The authors of the report in Lyon-Weiler's journal claim that this figure is incorrect, presenting alternative calculations that result in a much higher miscarriage rate of 82% to 91%. They arrived at these figures by using the same flawed method that was used in social media posts that we saw circulating in July. Those posts, which we fact-checked, had excluded 700 people vaccinated in the third trimester, when fetuses are more developed and the risk of miscarriage is reduced. Likewise, the authors excluded 700 people who were vaccinated after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the cutoff period that defines miscarriage. This left just 127 completed pregnancies. The 104 miscarriages out of 127 pregnancies amounted to 82%. This 82%, however, is not the miscarriage rate. Determining the effects of vaccination early in pregnancy means looking only at people who were vaccinated before 20 weeks, but it’s misleading to apply the narrow denominator of 127 to the preliminary data in the NEJM paper. "[Y]ou can’t do that because the data set is looking at all pregnancy outcomes," said Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB-GYN, in a blog post. "Of course when you remove those 700 pregnancies the miscarriage rate looks artificially high, because the only way a person got into the data set … was if the pregnancy had ended and they had been vaccinated." Likewise, the upper range of their estimate, 91%, used a denominator that only counted people with loss of pregnancy. This included 104 people who had spontaneous abortions and 10 people who had ectopic pregnancies or induced abortions, essentially dividing the number of miscarriages by itself. Determining the frequency of a certain outcome (i.e., miscarriages) using a sample that grossly overrepresents that outcome necessarily produces an inflated figure that cannot be applied to the general population. A more precise assessment of whether vaccination before the third trimester increases miscarriage rates would require following these pregnancies to completion. "These pregnancies will eventually form the denominator to look at vaccination in the first and second trimesters, but these pregnancies have to end and all data needs to be collected before they can be used," said Gunter. "There is no conspiracy to hide miscarriages here, just an abuse of statistics," said Gunter. More data is now available Since the CDC study was originally published, more data has become available. The authors of the CDC study have both acknowledged that there was an error in the denominator that they used, because it included people vaccinated after the 20-week cutoff. They published another paper on Oct. 14 with updated data that now included 2,456 pregnant people. They found that the cumulative miscarriage risk for those at 6 to 20 weeks of pregnancy was 14.1%, which is still comparable to the average miscarriage rate in the general population. Other studies corroborate these findings. A September paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association analyzed 105,446 pregnancies drawn from medical record data from eight health systems in the U.S. and found no increased risk for miscarriage following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC issued an urgent health advisory on Sep. 29 strongly recommending COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant and recently pregnant people, noting their increased risk of severe illness. An April multinational study found that people at any stage of pregnancy or delivery who contract COVID-19 are 22 times more likely to die than those without COVID-19, and their newborns are twice as likely to require intensive care or die after birth. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also updated its guidelines on Nov. 3, 2021, to recommend that pregnant and recently pregnant people receive a COVID-19 booster dose. Our ruling A blog post claims that a new report had found a major error in a CDC study, alleging that the miscarriage rate for pregnant people who received the COVID-19 vaccine was several times higher than presented in the study. The authors of the report, however, arrived at these figures by cherry-picking and manipulating data from the CDC study, and failing to account for all completed pregnancies. The CDC study has since published follow-up data that supports its original findings that there is no increased risk of miscarriage following COVID-19 vaccination. We rate the claim False.
Let's fact check the latest nonsense being pushed by anti-vax Covid-deniers this week. Pfizer CEO's Wife Died Of COVID-19 Vaccine Complications? Company Slams Fake News Claims https://www.ibtimes.com/pfizer-ceos...ations-company-slams-fake-news-claims-3338518 KEY POINTS A blog post published by Conservative Beaver claimed Myriam had been skeptical about her husband's COVID-19 vaccine The portal is infamous for spreading fake news to generate more views A Pfizer spokesperson called the fake claim 'rubbish' in a statement A spokesperson for American pharmaceutical company Pfizer has dismissed rumors claiming that the drugmaker CEO’s wife died of complications from the COVID-19 vaccine. A blog post published by Conservative Beaver on Nov. 10 claimed that Myriam Bourla, wife of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, died in the emergency room due to complications from the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. The article also claimed that Myriam had been skeptical about the COVID-19 vaccine, noting that she had initially refused to take the jab. “She passed away in the emergency room at New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital after being brought in by paramedics. The cause of death has been listed as complications from the Pfizer vaccine,” the blog post read. “During an interview with Scarsdale 10583, Bourla stated that while she was ‘proud’ of the work her husband did, she initially refused to take the vaccine, stating it was ‘not her turn, yet.’” A Pfizer spokesperson later dismissed claims made by the Conservative Beaver, noting that the CEO’s wife is “alive and well.” The spokesperson also slammed the blog’s efforts to undermine confidence in the vaccine, calling the claim “rubbish.” “It is unconscionable that a person posing as a journalist would spread such outrageous lies about our CEO and his family,” the representative said in an email to fact-checking website Newschecker. On Nov. 11, Albert also posted a photo with his wife taken from the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Leadership Awards, further proving that Myriam did not die of vaccine complications the day prior to the event.
Let's fact check the latest nonsense being pushed by anti-vax Covid-deniers. Claim: “Disturbing Pfizer ad tells kids they’ll get superpowers from COVID jab.” Pfizer ad doesn’t say COVID-19 vaccines gives kids superpowers https://www.politifact.com/factchec...-ad-doesnt-say-covid-19-vaccines-gives-kids-/
Anti-vax Covid-deniers are spewing excessive nonsense this week across the Internet... let's take a look at some of the fabrications they are pushing. Claim: "Bill Gates just admitted that the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines don’t work well." Bill Gates said we need vaccines that halt transmission. He didn’t say the COVID-19 shots don’t work https://www.politifact.com/factchec...ates-said-we-need-vaccines-halt-transmission/
No, 'Rabbinical Court' Did Not Oppose Covid-19 Vaccination Leading rabbinical authorities in Israel and US have endorsed vaccination. https://www.boomlive.in/world/rabbinical-court-covid-19-vaccination-drive-fake-news-fact-check-15641
Let's fact check the latest nonsense being shoveled by anti-vax Covid-deniers... Claim: “German News Agency Tracks 75 Prominent Athletes Suddenly Dead Of Heart Attacks After COVID Vax” Reality: Dozens of prominent athletes did not die of heart attacks after COVID-19 vaccination https://www.politifact.com/factchec...-prominent-athletes-did-not-die-heart-attack/
Let's see the false and misleading claims that anti-vaxxer Covid-deniers are peddling about myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination. Fact Check-Graph showing increase in myo/pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccine rollout does not confirm link https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-coronavirus-usa-idUSL1N2SA1EN
Let's take a look at the latest nonsense about vaccines being pushed by anti-vax Covid-deniers... Anthony Fauci did not ‘admit’ that COVID-19 vaccines aren’t working A video from Alex Jones cited comments that were cherry-picked from statements Fauci made on The Daily podcast about the necessity of booster shots. https://www.poynter.org/fact-checki...t-admit-that-covid-19-vaccines-arent-working/
Every day there is new bullshiat being pushed by anti-vaxxers. It is a relentless stream of complete crap coming from these anti-vax idiots. Fact check: New ingredient in Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine mischaracterized in online posts https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...e-pfizer-vaccine-mischaracterized/8615640002/ The claim: Pfizer added a new heart attack-stopping chemical to kids' vaccines As children have begun to receive their COVID-19 vaccines, questions over an ingredient change to Pfizer's vaccine have raised concerns among some online. "Why did they add a heart attack-stopping chemical to the new jab for kids? #tromethamine," reads a Nov. 10 Facebook post, shared alongside worried-looking and heart-breaking emojis. More:22 million babies missed measles vaccines during the pandemic. That's a big problem, CDC warns Other similar posts claim the vaccine manufacturing company Pfizer changed its COVID-19 vaccine formula for 5- to 11-year-olds to include tromethamine, nicknamed tris, claiming it is a "blood acid reducer that is used to stabilize people with heart attacks." Those posts further assert the added ingredient has significant side effects such as respiratory depression and IV thrombosis. But the key elements of these claims aren't true. Tris buffers help maintain a vaccine's pH, or acidity, and stability, but they aren't used to stop heart attacks. And there's nothing nefarious about the formulation switch, which was made to all Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, not just the pediatric one. The new formulation helps the vaccine stay stable longer at refrigerated temperatures, according to Pfizer and the Food and Drug Administration. And it isn't connected to anyserious side effects. Special access for subscribers! Click here to sign up for our fact-check text chat USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook and Instagram users who shared the posts. Why Pfizer changed its formula The FDA announced at an Oct. 29 press conference that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine had been approved for emergency use in children ages 5-11. During the same briefing, the agency announced that it authorized a manufacturing change for the vaccine. But the manufacturing change wasn't just about the pediatric vaccine. It was a change to all Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to allow it to be stored longer. The new vaccine formulation includes tromethamine – a different buffer, or a solution that helps maintain a vaccine's pH, or acidity, and stability. Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, said during the briefing that the formulation switch makes the vaccine "more stable at refrigerated temperatures for longer periods of time," which permits "greater flexibility" for vaccine providers. More: CDC panel approves Pfizer COVID vaccine for kids 5-11 “The new formulation contains tromethamine, which is known as tris buffer, and it’s commonly used as a buffer in a variety of other FDA-approved vaccines and biologics, including products for use in children," Marks said. Tris buffers are not a heart attack drug and they aren't used to counteract any alleged COVID-19 vaccine side effects. They are used in cardiac bypass surgery to "correct metabolic acidosis which may occur during or immediately following cardiac bypass surgical procedures," according to the Hazardous Substances Data Bank. The COVID-19 vaccine has not been shown to cause heart attacks, though in rare instances heart inflammation may occur. The FDA says on its website the agency determined the new ingredient does not present "safety or effectiveness concerns." Both the modified formulation with tris buffers and the original formulation will be available for people age 12 and older, not just young children, said Alison Hunt, a spokesperson for the FDA. Pfizer spokesperson Steve Danehy told USA TODAY in an email that the company's goal at the beginning of the pandemic was to "get a safe, effective vaccine to people as quickly as possible." But as the vaccine has become more available, priorities have shifted. "Improved stability has become a higher priority for the clinicians administering the vaccine," Danehy said. He said Pfizer made "no changes" in raw materials, mRNA, lipids or suppliers in the manufacturing of the vaccine components, and the processes involved in producing the vaccine for kids "remain unchanged" from adult and adolescent doses. He also confirmed the buffer change is intended to increase storage time. "Simply put, this allows the mRNA to resist being degraded for a longer period of time before administration – meaning the pediatric vaccine can be stored at 2-8°C in commonly available refrigerators for up to 10 weeks," Danehy said. There aren't any particularly strong side effects for it, either. People who receive tris buffer injections might expect to experience dizziness, feeling anxious, increased hunger or lack of appetite, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Other side effects could include confusion, fast heartbeat, flu-like symptoms or yellowing of the eyes or skin. Hunt told USA TODAY in an email that other drugs that use tris buffers include the dengue, smallpox and ebola vaccines, plus injected medicines Enbrel and Humalog, which she said are used for children. More: Young children get COVID-19 vaccine in latest push to quell pandemic Moderna's vaccine also uses tris buffer as a stabilizer, according to experts at Meedan’s Health Desk, a team of public health scientists aiming to curb online medical misinformation. Meedan wrote that it's not unusual to find buffers like tromethamine in pharmaceutical products, including products for children, and that the ingredient is also used as a stabilizer in fragrances and cosmetics. Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Pfizer added a new heart attack-stopping chemical to kids' vaccines. Tris buffers are used as part of some heart procedures, but they aren't used to stop heart attacks. And the change isn't specific to children's vaccines: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for all ages will use the new ingredient to increase storage life. Our fact-check sources: Alison Hunt, Nov. 15, email exchange with USA TODAY Steve Danehy, Nov. 15, email exchange with USA TODAY Megan Marelli, Nov. 15, email exchange with USA TODAY FDA, Oct. 29, Virtual Press Conference: COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 5-11 Years Old – 10/29/2021 New York Times, Nov. 13, What is tromethamine? It is used to stabilize Covid vaccines. Hazardous Substances Data Bank, retrieved Nov. 14, Tromethamine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nov. 12, Myocarditis and Pericarditis After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination Cleveland Clinic, retrieved Nov. 14, Tromethamine Solution for Injection FDA, Oct. 29, FDA Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use in Children 5 through 11 Years of Age Meedan Health Desk, Nov. 10, What do we know about tromethamine in COVID-19 vaccines? Health Feedback, Nov. 12, Tromethamine in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children acts to improve the stability of the vaccine; it isn’t in the vaccine as a heart medication Reuters, Nov. 12, Fact Check-Pfizer is not including tromethamine in its COVID-19 vaccine to counter side-effects AFP Fact Check, Nov. 12, Child health concerns didn’t prompt new Pfizer vaccine ingredient
Let's fact check some other recent nonsense being pushed by anti-vax Covid-deniers. Fact Check-No evidence COVID-19 vaccines are linked to athletes collapsing or dying from myocarditis https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-coronavirus-sport-idUSL1N2SK160 Tag: COVIDFACTCHECK