Since regaining power in January, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed with false certainty that the COVID-19 pandemic originated in a lab. But there isn’t clear evidence that the virus came from a lab. A new government website promoting the claim also gets some basic facts wrong.
Stories by Jessica McDonald
RFK Jr.’s Misleading Line on the Chickenpox Vaccine
Speaking before Congress, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. misleadingly claimed that Europe doesn’t vaccinate children against chickenpox because a study shows that when you do, “you get shingles in older people.” While that is a theoretical concern, studies have not borne that out — and parts of Europe do vaccinate kids.
Trump’s 100th Day Spin
RFK Jr. Misleads on Autism Prevalence, Causes
No Sign of Texas Measles Outbreak Slowing, Contrary to RFK Jr.’s Claims
Posts Make Unsupported Claims About Origin of Texas Measles Outbreak
The measles vaccine uses a weakened virus that’s never been shown to spread to others. Samples from the outbreak in Texas also show that a wild-type virus is responsible. Yet, social media posts have falsely claimed that the outbreak is due to a vaccine strain. Without evidence, other posts have blamed immigrants crossing the southern border illegally.
RFK Jr. hace declaraciones engañosas sobre la vacuna contra el sarampión en una entrevista con Hannity
En una entrevista con Sean Hannity, de Fox News, el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., hizo varias afirmaciones infundadas o engañosas sobre la vacuna contra el sarampión, que los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) han calificado como segura y “la herramienta más importante para prevenir” la enfermedad. Mientras tanto, el brote de sarampión en Texas continúa creciendo.
RFK Jr. Misleads About Measles Vaccine in Hannity Interview
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made several unsupported or misleading claims about the measles vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said is safe and “the most important tool to prevent” the disease. Meanwhile, a measles outbreak in Texas continues to expand.
El sarampión es perjudicial, al contrario de afirmaciones sobre supuestos beneficios a largo plazo
El sarampión es una enfermedad extremadamente contagiosa y prevenible, que puede llevar a la muerte o discapacidad. La enfermedad puede además borrar la memoria inmunológica por varios años. Mientras un brote en Texas continúa expandiéndose, publicaciones en redes sociales han afirmado sin suficiente respaldo que las infecciones por sarampión son beneficiosas en el transcurso de la vida para luchar contra el cáncer y otras enfermedades, una idea que el secretario de salud Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ha repetido.
Measles Is Harmful, Contrary to Flimsy Social Media Claims of Long-Term Benefits
Measles is an extremely contagious vaccine-preventable disease that can lead to death or disability. It also wipes out immune memory for several years after an infection. As an outbreak in Texas continues to expand, social media posts have claimed without sufficient support that measles infections are beneficial later in life against cancer and other diseases, an idea health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has echoed.