Health
Covid-19 is not a ‘simple flu’
A Facebook post calling for an investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic falsely claims the government “knew” the virus was a “simple flu”. Read
Fact check
Covid-19 fact checks
This page brings together Full Fact’s fact checks on Covid-19, covering common claims, vaccine safety and efficacy, symptoms, treatments, government policies, and misinformation. We review evidence, correct errors, and monitor evolving science to help you make informed decisions.
Health
ONS release doesn’t show vaccines ‘killing in huge numbers’
An ONS bulletin about Covid-19 deaths by vaccination status does not show the vaccine is killing people in huge numbers. Read
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Health
Instagram post's claims about myocarditis in children not supported by official data
Social media claims that 1 in 40 children now get myocarditis are based on limited evidence—and ignore official evidence to the contrary. Read
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Health
Vaccine boosters post wrongly says people not offered Covid-19 vaccine ‘declined’ it
Young children were not offered the vaccine at all, and most people were not offered the autumn booster. There are problems with the total population estimates too. Read
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Health
Egg yolks not shown to fight Covid-19
Social media posts claiming egg yolks could be a key in fighting Covid-19 infections misinterpret the research and falsely link it to egg shortages. Read
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Health
Vaccine did not cause young woman to lose both her legs
Claire Bridges’ legs were amputated as a result of complications from a Covid-19 infection and her heart condition. Being vaccinated had nothing to do with it. Read
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Health
Current flu vaccines don’t use mRNA technology
A post on Facebook wrongly suggests that mRNA technology used in two Covid-19 vaccines has also been used in the flu vaccine. Read
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Health
Instagram post misrepresents study linking climate change and diseases
Research linking climate change to strokes, dementia and migraines is not a cover up for Covid-19 vaccine harms, as Instagram user claims. Read
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Health
Excess deaths would be higher without Covid-19 vaccines
Dr Aseem Malhotra told the BBC that mRNA vaccines were “a likely contributing factor” to excess deaths in the UK. But the vaccines will have limited them, by preventing tens of thousands of deaths. Read
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Health
Nothing has been ‘added’ to the children’s flu vaccine to cause strep A
A Facebook post claims something’s been added to the nasal flu mist to make children sick. This is false. Read
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Evidence you can rely on
Fact checking claims made by politicians, public figures and viral online content can give you the full picture backed by the evidence.
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