Misleading: A WHO database has listed over two million adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

By: Vivek J
October 26 2021

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Misleading: A WHO database has listed over two million adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact-Check

The Verdict Misleading

Unverified data uploaded on the VigiAccess portal of WHO is misrepresented to show that COVID-19 vaccines cause severe adverse effects.

Claim ID 0e03c743

Unverified data uploaded on the VigiAccess portal of WHO is misrepresented to show that COVID-19 vaccines cause severe adverse effects.In an article, The Expose, a conspiracy website, claimed that over 2.2 million people reported adverse effects and deaths, including severe adverse effects like birth disorders and cardiac ailments. The Expose used the data on the VigiAccess portal of WHO to make their misrepresented assessment. Firstly, The Expose is a conspiracy-pseudoscience website that publishes numerous false or misleading articles. Several of their articles have been debunked for making unwarranted claims about COVID-19 and vaccination against COVID-19. Logically has done a comprehensive double-check on similar claims made using VAERS and the U.K.'s Yellow Card scheme. Such claims are aimed at discrediting the vaccine and discouraging people from getting vaccinated. Secondly, the VigiAccess portal contains raw user data submitted by countries or healthcare organizations that health experts have not verified and ascertained. The VigiAccess portal is overseen by Uppsala Monitoring Center, a Swedish organization operating the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring. The Associated Press quoted an email by the VigiAccess manager at Uppsala, saying that neither WHO nor UMC vetted the reports of side effects upon submission. The manager was further quoted saying that they did basic validation to ensure the minimum required information was included. The VigiAccess website has noted that it cannot be used to infer any confirmed link between a suspected side effect and any specific medicine. Correlation is not causation. Furthermore, WHO and the CDC have listed the potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccines on their respective websites. Vaccines have been approved only after a stringent approval process by vetting all the required data. Datasets found on platforms like VigiAccess and VAERS are misrepresented by conspiracy groups and anti-vaxxers to discredit the COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.

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