False: New research proves COVID-19 vaccine causes increase in miscarriage and still births.

By: Gayathri Loka
March 3 2023

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Context 

Dr. Assem Malhotra, a cardiologist known to spread COVID-19 misinformation, claimed in a tweet that research shows that stillbirths and miscarriages have increased due to the COVID-19 vaccines. His tweet reads, "BREAKING: New research reveals 57 fold increase in miscarriages & 38 fold increase in stillbirths & foetal deaths after covid mRNA jabs. 'The greatest violation of medical ethics & humanity ever' says leading obstetrician. This is truly horrific."

Malhotra shared a video of Fox News’s Tucker Carlson interview with Dr. James Thorp. In the interview, Thorp says he conducted a study that may appear in a major peer-reviewed journal by March 1, 2023. He claims to have observed two-fold or greater adverse effects due to COVID-19 vaccines compared to influenza shots. Known to spread uncredible medical misformation, Thorp says the results were found by comparing COVID-19 vaccine adverse events over 18 months to the influenza vaccine over 282 months. 

 As of March 3, 2023, no peer-reviewed journal has published the study.

In Fact 

Malhotra's tweet about "57-fold increase in miscarriages & 38-fold increase in still births & foetal deaths after covid mRNA jabs" is what Thorp also claims in the interview with Fox News. He cites a study he conducted with six other researchers titled "COVID-19 Vaccines: The Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes and Menstrual Function." Published on Preprints - an online platform where early versions of research papers can be uploaded - in December 2022, it studied the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on pregnancy and menstruation. The study is yet to be peer-reviewed and, therefore, cannot be considered credible thus far. The research concluded, stating, "Pregnancy and menstrual abnormalities are significantly more frequent following COVID-19 vaccinations than influenza vaccinations."

There are no credible reports that support the claim or Thorp's research. In fact, COVID-19 vaccination is advised in case of pregnancy.

The British Medical Journal published a study in 2022 titled, "Risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age at birth, and stillbirth after COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy: population based retrospective cohort study." The study observed that the vaccines were "not associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age at birth, or stillbirth." The National Health Service (NHS) states that it is safe for pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at any stage of their pregnancy. "There's no evidence COVID-19 vaccination increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth or other complications in your pregnancy," NHS states.

Dr. Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor with the NHS, dismissed this claim and tweeted that Malhotra is known to spread anti-vaccine misinformation. She also said, "To be clear, this is a GMC-registered doctor targeting vulnerable pregnant women with wildly inaccurate disinformation." She also attached a fact-check by FacthCheck.org that shows COVID-19 vaccines reduced chances of stillbirths, and said, "The clip he has shamelessly shared from Tucker Carlson is bogus. James Thorp, the U.S. doctor whose 'research' Fox News is platforming, is a known anti-vax disinformer whose claims are repeatedly debunked."

Epoch Times, a non-credible media outlet, reported similar claims when they interviewed Thorp on COVID-19 vaccines. Thorp had claimed mRNA vaccines affect menstrual cycles and pregnancies. Health Feedback, a medical fact-checking organization, debunked the anti-vaccine claims made in the Epoch Times article. Logically has previously debunked similar claims.

The Verdict 

Credible medical professionals and organizations recommend pregnant women vaccinate against COVID-19. There is no proof of the research cited in the social media post. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.