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Home » COVID-19 vaccine facts and debunking myths — the semi-complete list

COVID-19 vaccine facts and debunking myths — the semi-complete list


Last updated on November 27th, 2022 at 04:18 pm

There are so many myths about the COVID-19 vaccine, I wanted to post some facts about the new vaccines which we can use for debunking purposes. I used to think that the HPV vaccine brought the most hatred and misinformation from the anti-vaccine world, but it’s clear that the new COVID-19 vaccines are their new targets.

This article will only focus on the five vaccines that I believe will eventually receive FDA or European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval – Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ Janssen), and Novavax vaccines. I remain unconvinced that any vaccine made in China or the Russian Sputnik V vaccine will ever get approved by countries with robust drug regulatory agencies. However, if they are, I will certainly add them to a future iteration of this list.

I’m going to make this in a basic chart form for ease of use in finding COVID-19 vaccine facts and myths. I will link to supporting evidence wherever relevant.

COVID-19 vaccine facts

FactsPfizerModernaJNJ – JanssenAstra-ZenecaNovavax
Co-developerBioNTechNational Institutes of HealthNoneOxford University None
Vaccine nameComirnatySpikevaxJcovdenChAdOx1Nuvaxovid or Covovax
FDA approvalYesYesEUA NoNo
Size of clinical trial43,548 people aged 16 and up30,420 people aged 18 and up43,783 people aged 18 and up+11,000+44,000
Effectiveness95% at least 7 days after dose 294.1% at least 14 days after dose 272% in the U.S. and 66% globally against moderate-to-severe disease; 85% effective against severe disease, 28 days after a single doseTBD83.4% two weeks after the first dose and 89.7% one week after the second dose in a UK study. 90.4% in US/Mexico study
TechnologymRNAmRNARecombined adenovirus vector, human Ad26.COV2.S., which expresses the S-subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to induce an immune response.Recombined adenovirus vector, chimpanzee ChAdOx1, which expresses the S-subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to induce an immune response.Recombinant spike protein subunit antigen harvested and assembled onto a synthetic lipid nanoparticle.
AvailabilityCurrentCurrentCurrentUnknownFebruary 2022
Variants94% effective against Delta variant after three doses. 82% effective against Omicron variant after three doses.94% effective against Delta variant after three doses. 82% effective against Omicron variant after three doses.57% efficacy in South Africa; 66% efficacy in South America (Brazil was among the countries studied, but there were no sequenced cases of the P.1 variant)TBDNo data for variants.
DosesTwo doses, 21 days apart (30 μg/dose)Two doses, 28 days apart (100 μg/dose)One dose (two-dose regimen under evaluation)2Two doses, 21 days apart
StorageUltra-cold freezer required, -80ºC to -60ºC (-112ºF to -76ºF) for up to 6 months; the FDA recently allowed a change that frozen, undiluted vials can be stored at standard pharmacy freezer temperatures between -25ºC to -15ºC (-13ºF to 5ºF) for up to 2 weeks.Frozen between -25ºC to -15ºC (-13ºF to 5ºF); can be stored refrigerated from 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF) for up to 30 days before first use.Stable for 2 years at -20ºC (-4ºF) but can be stored for at least 3 months at typical refrigeration temperatures of 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF)2º to 8ºC (36º to 46º F)2º to 8ºC (36º to 46º F)
IngredientsmRNA, lipid nanoparticles, buffers – details heremRNA, lipid nanoparticles, buffers – details hereAdenovirus vector, buffers – details hereTBDTBD
Allergic reactionsVery rare, may be caused by polyethylene glycol in the lipid nanoparticles Very rare, may be caused by polyethylene glycol in the lipid nanoparticlesNone observed in clinical trialsTBDNone observed in clinical trials
Number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in the vaccinated groupNoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Number of people who died from COVID-19 in the vaccinated groupNoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Number of people who died from vaccineNoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Safe for pregnancyDefinitelyDefinitelyDefinitelyTBDTBD
Improves pregnancy outcomesYes. YesYesYesYes
Contra-indicationsPrevious allergic reaction to mRNA vaccines, allergies to PEG, allergies to polysorbatePrevious allergic reaction to mRNA vaccines, allergies to PEG, allergies to polysorbateNoneTBD, but probably noneTBD, but probably none
A lot of the boxes for the AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines have TBD (to be determined). Official clinical trial documents have been submitted to the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) in advance of an emergency use authorization (EUA). At that time, I’ll update this section.

Because of the size of this chart, you may have to swipe left in some browsers to see all of the columns.

COVID-19 myths

MythsPfizerModernaJNJ – JanssenAstra-ZenecaNovavax
Will it cause changes in DNA?NoNoNoNoThe vaccine does not use mRNA technology so this shouldn’t be a concern.
Will it harm the developing fetus?NoNoNoProbably no.Probably no.
Is it safe for pregnant and breast-feeding moms?Probably and probably.Probably and probably.TBDTBDTBD
Will it cause COVID-19?NoNoNo, there is no live SARS-CoV-2 virusNo, there is no live virusNo.
Will it shed COVID-19?No and no. There is no live virus in the vaccine. Dr. David Gorski also says No. No and no. There is no live virus in the vaccine. Dr. David Gorski also says No.No and no. There is no live virus in the vaccine.No and no. There is no live virus in the vaccine.There is no live virus in the vaccine.
Will it cause Bell’s palsy?No NoNoTBD after clinical trial documents are submittedTBD after clinical trial documents are submitted
No unprotected sex after the vaccine?NoNoNoNoNo
Will it cause infertility?No and no. No and no. No and no. No and no. No.
Will it cause miscarriage?NoNoNoNoNo
Did Tiffany Dover die from the vaccine?NoNot relevantNot relevantNot relevantNot relevant
Did Miami doctor, Michael, Gregory, die from the vaccine?Probably no, and noNot relevantNot relevantNot relevantNot relevant
Did the vaccine kill people in Norway?Probably no, and probably noProbably no, and probably noNot relevantNot relevantNot relevant
Do the lipid nanoparticles in the vaccine harm the brain?NoNoNot relevantNot relevantNo
Were the vaccines rushed to market?No and no. No and no.No and no.No and no.No and no.
Should the FDA have stopped the vaccine clinical trials?No.No.No.Stay tuned.Stay tuned.
Should the vaccine not be given to those with current COVID-19 infection?According to Orac, NO.According to Orac, NO.According to Orac, NO.According to Orac, NO.According to Orac, NO.
Are the mRNA vaccines gene therapy?According to the feathered dinosaur, NO. According to David Gorski, NO. According to the feathered dinosaur, NO. According to David Gorski, NO.Not relevant. However, adenovirus vector vaccines do not affect the DNA.Not relevant, for now.Not relevant, for now.
Are the mRNA vaccines medical devices?According to the feathered dinosaur, NO. According to David Gorski, NO.According to the feathered dinosaur, NO. According to David Gorski, NO.According to the feathered dinosaur, NO. According to David Gorski, NO.Not relevant, for now.Not relevant, for now.
Do mRNA vaccines target tumor receptor genes?The venerable Orac says NO. The venerable Orac says NO.Not relevant for now. Not relevant for now.Not relevant.
Do these vaccines cause clots? No evidence. No evidence.Possible link to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, but it is extremely rare, around 1 in 1 million doses of vaccine. Possible link to cerebral venous sinus thrombosisNo.
Do these vaccines hack the software of life?NO. And Dr. David Gorski says NO.NO. And Dr. David Gorski says NO.So far, no one has stated this but just wait.Waiting.No
Can mRNA vaccines cause prion disease and Alzheimer’s disease?David Gorski says NO. NO.Not relevant.Not relevant.Not relevant.
Do the mRNA vaccines cause myocarditis?PossiblePossibleNot relevant.Not relevant.Not relevant.
Do the lipid nanoparticles accumulate in the ovaries causing infertility?NO. NO. No lipid nano-particles.No lipid nano-particles.NO.
Do these vaccines affect sperm?NONONONONO
Are these vaccines experimental?Approved by the FDA. Approved by the FDA. NONONO
Do these vaccines violate the Nuremberg Code?NO and NO.NO and NO.NO and NO.NO and NO.NO and NO.
Do these vaccines contain graphene oxide?NO.NO.NO.NO.NO.
Are there aborted fetal cells in these vaccines?NONOYESYESUnknown
Because of the size of this chart, you may have to swipe left in some browsers to see all of the columns.

Summary

As you can tell, most of the COVID-19 vaccine facts are supported by science-based evidence. And the myths are unsupported by the evidence.

I plan to update this easy-to-read list of COVID-19 vaccine facts and myths as I run across more nonsense. I intend to always add links that support or refute the claim. I hope that this article is helpful to those of you who are having discussions with people who are on the fence about these vaccines.

If you have any new myths, claims, or facts about the COVID-19 vaccines, please post them in the comments below.

Michael Simpson

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