#RelyonReal for the COVID-19 Vaccine

Do any of these myths sound familiar? If your social media is anything like mine, then you can probably recall at least three more off the top of your head. Every day I log in online, I’m confronted with more reasons not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. While some of these suspiciously sound like conspiracy theories, others are more subtle and worrying. So how do we know if they’re true? Well, we need to #RelyonReal.

#RelyonReal is a social media campaign with the purpose of spreading facts about the COVID-19 vaccine to combat any misleading myths or misinformation—something I had not been too concerned about because I knew I wasn’t going to be eligible for vaccination any time soon. Then President Biden announced that he wanted all adults to be eligible for the vaccine by May 1st. Suddenly, ‘any time soon’ was happening much faster than I thought possible.

To help myself make this decision of whether or not to be vaccinated, I compiled a list of resources divided into four sections that address many of the popular myths I’ve been hearing: 1.) myths that the vaccine is unsafe; 2.) myths that the vaccine contains a chip/implant; 3.) myths that the vaccine will cause deportation; and 4.) myths that the vaccine will affect personal freedoms. Even though I included three or so resources per myth, I promise that there are many other resources out there.

It’s time to #RelyonReal.

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1. Myths that the vaccine is unsafe.
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MYTH: The vaccine will give you COVID-19 and/or change your DNA.

• Curated pages of vaccine and COVID-19 myths vs. facts by the CDC and John Hopkins Medicine
• How mRNA vaccines work (Pfizer and Moderna)
• How viral vector vaccines work (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson)

MYTH: The vaccine is unsafe because it was developed so quickly.

• See how the vaccine was developed so quickly and why it is safe in spite of that
• CDC explaining vaccine safety based on vaccination results so far
• The benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of COVID-19

MYTH: The vaccine is unsafe because of the side effects.

• Video by Vox explaining why side effects to the vaccine are a good thing
• CDC explanation of side-effects and when you should call a doctor
• Possibility of no long-term side-effects

MYTH: The vaccine is unsafe because the government can’t be trusted after the Tuskegee experiment.

• Video with Dr. Jaqui Jones at Prisma addressing minority concerns about the vaccine
• Video with Tyler Perry interviewing doctors about the vaccine
• Video hosted by blackdoctor.org with Dr. Fauci addressing concerns of the Black Community
• Investigating viral video about minorities being experimented on during COVID-19
• Investigating RFK Jr.’s viral video suggesting that the medical establishment can’t be trusted

MYTH: The vaccine will cause infertility/miscarriage.

• What you need-to-know about the vaccine while pregnant, curated by the CDC and John Hopkins Medicine
• Investigating social media claims that the vaccine causes miscarriages

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2. Myths that the vaccine contains a chip/implant.
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MYTH: The vaccine contains a tracking chip/implant.

• CDC issued an ingredient list for Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccines
• Investigating Bill Gates’ vaccine trackers

MYTH: The government will track people who get the vaccine.

• CDC issued an ingredient list for Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccines
• Investigating the patient tracker myth

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3. Myths that the vaccine will cause deportation.
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MYTH: The vaccine will expose undocumented people.

• Proof of citizenship is not required in SC to get the vaccine
• Immigration status cannot be shared by health officials

MYTH: Undocumented immigrants will be deported.

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement about not operating near vaccination sites
• See the White House stance on the vaccine and deportation

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4. Myths that the vaccine will affect personal freedoms.
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MYTH: You are required to be vaccinated.

• Federal law stating that being vaccinated is optional while vaccine is under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Section e. 1. A. ii. I-III.
• Explanation on whether or not the vaccine can be required while it is under EUA

MYTH: You’ll be required to have a vaccine passport.

• Explanation of what a vaccine passport is and if they are currently being used
• The government is not involved with vaccine passports at this time
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is against vaccine passports at this time

📺 Media Literacy:

The Coronavirus Misinformation Tracking Center 

As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, so does disinformation and misinformation. Follow the spread of this dangerous information with NewsGuard’s new Coronavirus Misinformation Tracking Center. And remember to #RelyonReal.
 

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