Feb 23, 2021 - Health

Fast-spreading misinformation on COVID vaccine and infertility worries health experts

Marisa Fernandez

Illustration of a toy baby mobile with coronavirus cells, a syringe, a surgical mask and a vaccine vial all hanging from the strings. — Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Health officials are worried that misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines and infertility will drive down vaccination rates among women, the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: False claims about the vaccines are rampant, and threaten to prevent the U.S. from vaccinating enough people to put the pandemic safely behind us.

Details: Twitter and Facebook posts have distorted the truth about mRNA vaccines, including false claims that the vaccines will attack the placenta, possible causing possible miscarriage or infertility.

By the numbers: About 12% of women in recent KFF polling said they had heard these false claims and either believed them or weren't sure whether they were true.

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Fast-spreading misinformation on COVID vaccine and infertility worries health experts

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