copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2021-07-26): "The COVID-19 vaccines have caused widespread death and disease." FACT: They haven’t. The COVID-19 vaccines are known to cause some temporary side effects, such as fatigue. But widespread death and serious disease? Such claims often trace back to an unverified federal database that has become a breeding ground for anti-vaccine misinformation. [...] Social media users have tried to link the deaths of celebrities and specific people to the COVID-19 vaccines. Those claims haven’t panned out.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2023-12-22): On 13 December 2023, the Wellness Company shared a post on Instagram, in which gynecologist James Thorp questioned the utility and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The post claimed that the vaccines were an "unqualified disaster" because they didn’t "[halt] viral spread" while "spawn[ing] unacceptable high morbidity and mortality rates". [...] Although they don’t entirely halt the spread of the virus, COVID-19 vaccines are effective at reducing the risk of severe disease. This is important because it translates into fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations and mortality. An observational study about the first year of vaccination in the U.S. showed that a 10% increase in vaccination in the country was associated with an 8% reduction in mortality[4]. [...] Stating that COVID-19 vaccines don’t halt the spread of the virus is misleading. Similar to the claim discussed in the previous section, it incorrectly takes an "all or nothing" position on vaccine effectiveness, in which anything less than 100% effectiveness means a vaccine doesn’t work.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2020-08-06): Communities of color have too often borne the brunt of these failures. Native, Black, and Latino Americans are suffering from Covid-19 at vastly disproportionate rates compared to white people in this country, a disparity resulting from decades of racist economic, healthcare, and housing policies. The Trump administration’s failure to effectively manage the crisis has made an already perilous situation worse. The racial injustice exposed by the pandemic underscores the urgent need for executive branch leaders to work for — and be accountable to — the American public. [...] Political appointees at HHS have repeatedly pressured the CDC to edit and delay data and studies about Covid-19 in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), an essential public health resource for doctors, researchers, and the public that has been in existence since 1878. One official referred to the reports as "hit pieces on the administration" and accused CDC scientists of using the reports to "hurt the president." [...] The Trump administration’s efforts to politicize and undermine vaccine safety measures are especially damaging given the administration’s 2019 decision to close down the National Vaccine Program Office — a government body tasked with monitoring the safety of vaccines.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2022-07-11): 3.2.3. Misinformation and Disinformation about COVID-19 Pandemic and COVID-19 Vaccines "Most of our patients thought that when they come to the healthcare facility, we might create another scene by saying we would move them to the isolation center, so most of the caregivers who were supposed to bring their children for immunization were scared" – HCW (Oja-timi PHC). "Some of us think that if we go to the facility, our children might be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine"—Caregivers (FGD: Imo, Isale-oyo, Adejuwan, Jos south…communities). [...] - Islam, S.; Kamal, A.-H.M.; Kabir, A.; Southern, D.L.; Khan, S.H.; Hasan, S.M.M.; Sarkar, T.; Sharmin, S.; Das, S.; Roy, T.; et al. COVID-19 vaccine rumors and conspiracy theories: The need for cognitive inoculation against misinformation to improve vaccine adherence. PLoS ONE 2021, 16, e0251605. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [...] - Geneva Palais Briefing Note on the Impact of COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Vaccine Supply and Logistics. Available online: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/geneva-palais-briefing-note-impact-covid-19-mitigation-measures-vaccine-supply-and (accessed on 1 November 2021).
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2021-07-12): Like many other newspapers, the Times issued daily "breaking news" alerts relaying the latest COVID-19 morbidity and mortality statistics and highlighting the results of highly speculative "scientific" reports, such as computer modelling efforts that guessed (often very poorly) at most of the epidemiological features of the virus.Footnote 5 Far less attention was given to studies that offered more modest estimates of the likely death toll. The biggest misinformation gaffe—hugely erroneous claims about the infection mortality rate made by the Seattle Times and most other mainstream newspapers—went on month after month with little visible opposition from knowledgeable reporters, public health officials, medical experts, or anyone else. [...] Furthermore, even in cases where a single factor strongly predominates in causing a person’s demise, medicine will frequently miss it. Much of the literature speculating that official COVID-19 mortality rates are too high or too low assumes that there is a correct rate that is just right. But such is not the case.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2021-01-01): The Merriam-Webster dictionary defined complacency as self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies [1]. When it comes to safety, complacency can be dangerous. Pandemics are large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease that can greatly increase morbidity and mortality over a wide geographic area and cause significant economic, social, and political disruption [2]. A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing a cluster of respiratory infections (Coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) in Wuhan, China (a city of more than 11 million people and the capital of Hubei province in China), was identified on 7 January 2020 [3]. Twenty-seven patients with pneumonia had initially been reported, with an epidemiological link to a live animal market that was closed and disinfected on 1 January. From 20 January, the number of notifications of cases rose dramatically, and as at 12
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2024-09-30): I voted "Yes" on H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. Throughout the pandemic our healthcare workers put their lives on the line to help their fellow man. However, after this selfless work, the Biden Administration enacted an overreaching rule mandating healthcare workers be vaccinated against COVID-19, even though the vaccine has proven not to slow the spread of the virus and many of these same healthcare workers already had natural immunity through previous exposure to the virus. This mandate led to the mass firing of health workers, which has created staffing shortages in medical facilities, raising costs and undermining access to quality care, especially for those in rural communities. This legislation will finally undo this destructive mandate, allowing these health professionals to return to work. No American should lose access to employment or educational opportunities because of a personal health decision. This bill passed the House by a vote of 227-203.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2018-06-06): During the late BA.4/BA.5 period, unvaccinated persons had higher COVID-19 mortality and infection rates than persons receiving bivalent doses (mortality RR = 14.1 and infection RR = 2.8) and to a lesser extent persons vaccinated with only monovalent doses (mortality RR = 5.4 and infection RR = 2.5). Among older adults, mortality rates among unvaccinated persons were significantly higher than among those who had received a bivalent booster (65–79 years; RR = 23.7 and ≥80 years; 10.3) or a monovalent booster (65–79 years; 8.3 and ≥80 years; 4.2). The authors of this CDC MMWR conclude that, "For the best protection against severe COVID-19, all persons should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination, including receipt of a bivalent booster by eligible persons." - Determinants of Professional Fulfillment and Burnout Among Intensivists: A National Survey by the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists in 2022. 2/15/23. Siddiqui S. Anesth Analg.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2023-01-19): This is not to suggest that the vaccines are inherently unsafe. Rather, it suggests that policymakers must account for the fact that the risks and benefits of the vaccine relative to those of the disease vary by age and health status. The risk of COVID-associated severe illness and death is highly age-stratified. Older adults are highly vulnerable, young adults are much less so, and the risk to children without underlying comorbidities is infinitesimal. Thus, the risk of the vaccine relative to its benefit is much different for an 18-year-old male than for an 82-year-old. [...] As of November 2022, the CICP had received 7,624 claims alleging injury or death from COVID vaccines.REF The agency had determined that nine of these claims, eight of which concerned myocarditis, were eligible for compensation.REF [...] What are the risks and benefits of coronavirus vaccines relative to age and medical condition, and should the CDC modify its recommendations with respect to COVID vaccines? Early development, production, distribution, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines during a national medical emergency were among the government’s most significant pandemic policy successes, but the value of those vaccines, like the risk of COVID-related mortality and severe morbidity, is highly dependent on age and medical condition. Even after it became apparent that the vaccines did not prevent the transmission of the disease, the CDC continued to require that children and young adults be vaccinated. Congress should require the CDC to explain how it derived its risk/benefit analysis for vaccination schedules and why it has not revised those recommendations despite changing science.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2020-06-26): Written by John Hickner, MD, MS, on January 26, 2021. (Source: Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 14–23, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(2):46-51.) [...] Successful Chinese Phase 2 Trial of a COVID-19 Vaccine. These researchers identified 508 healthy volunteers and randomized them to low-dose vaccine (5 x 1010 viral particles), high-dose vaccine (1 x 1011 viral particles), or placebo vaccine in a 2:1:1 ratio (this was an adenovirus type-5 vectored vaccine). Allocation was concealed, and patients and outcome assessors were masked. The mean was 40 years of age, with a range of 18 to 83 years, but only 13% of recipients were 55 years or older. Seroconversion of the binding antibody was high at 96% to 97% in the two vaccine groups at 28 days. Seroconversion of the neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 occurred in 59% receiving the high-dose vaccine and 49% receiving the low-dose vaccine at 28 days. Note that binding antibodies bind to the viral antigen but do not prevent infection of the host cell, whereas neutralizing antibodies prevent infection. Evidence of humoral (T-cell mediated) immunity was detected in 90% of patients receiving the high-dose vaccine and 88% with the low-dose vaccine at 28 days. Patients with high preexisting titers to adenovirus type 5 and older patients had less vigorous immune responses and would likely require a second immunization.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2020-04-20): But Fauci has at times struggled to compel politicians and businesses to attack the problems that he considers most worrisome. Over the years, he has become concerned about the possible impact of new viruses, particularly a lethal strain of influenza. Other viruses are more consistently deadly; some, like measles, are more contagious. But no virus that we know of is capable of killing as rapidly and as efficiently. "We need a major paradigm shift with influenza vaccines," Fauci told me, four years ago. "The situation is a mess." [...] To even contemplate creating these kinds of treatments, Fauci says, would require building an entirely new system for making vaccines before a pandemic arises. But, in addition to the scientific obstacles, this would cost billions of dollars, and no company or politician has been willing to spend the money. Perhaps, just as AIDS transformed our approach to clinical trials, our experience with COVID-19 will change our attitudes about preventing infectious diseases. A proper investment in both research and emergency preparedness would have prevented at least some of the unspeakable human loss we are now experiencing and the economic crash that has just begun.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2020-12-15): With the COVID crisis, 40 million Americans lost their jobs, and 3.3 million businesses shut down, including 41 percent of all black-owned enterprises. Black Americans, who significantly outnumber whites in federal prisons despite being but 13 percent of the population, are suffering shockingly high rates of morbidity and mortality, dying at nearly three times the rate of white Americans. The cardinal rule of American social policy — don’t let any ethnic group get below the blacks, or allow anyone to suffer more indignities — rang true even in a pandemic, as if the virus was taking its cues from American history. [...] As a number of countries moved expeditiously to contain the virus, the United States stumbled along in denial, as if willfully blind. With less than four percent of the global population, the U.S. soon accounted for more than a fifth of COVID deaths. The percentage of American victims of the disease who died was six times the global average. Achieving the world’s highest rate of morbidity and mortality provoked not shame, but only further lies, scapegoating, and boasts of miracle cures as dubious as the claims of a carnival barker, a grifter on the make.
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2020-09-17): National Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine - [...] AMA Passes Resolution on Combating Misinformation About COVID-19 Vaccines - [...] COVID-19 Vaccine News -
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2022-06-30): Covid-19 vaccines have raised a lot of controversy. Beliefs about these vaccines can affect the public’s willingness and compliance in getting vaccinated which, in turn, could evolve into a public health challenge considering the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid spread of recent variants. Most common concerns relating to vaccine hesitancy are fears over potential side-effects, safety, and efficacy/benefits (Neumann-Böhme et al. 2020; Bell et al. 2020). There has been a recurring concern that these vaccines could be dangerous because of how quickly they were developed (Bell et al. 2020; Troiano and Nardi 2021; Biswas et al. 2021; Nguyen 2021). One study reported concerns that Covid-19 vaccines were potentially experimental, lacking enough studies regarding their side-effects, and that they might not be safe for certain subgroups, such as pregnant women and people with pre-existing conditions (Neumann-Böhme et al. 2020). Perceptions of the vaccines’ efficacy are consistently associated with vaccination intention, where higher efficacy is linked to increased Covid-19 vaccine acceptance (Malesza and Wittmann 2021). In some studies, individuals reported they were open to vaccination at a later time, after they see if the vaccine was safe for others (Nguyen 2021). [...] Perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines: benefits, risks, and concerns [...] Sources of information on Covid-19 vaccines
Claim: COVID-19 vaccines are “an unqualified disaster”; they didn’t “[halt] viral spread” and they caused “high morbidity and mortality rates” (James Thorp, 2023-12-22)
Evidence (2022-01-18): - Fort Dix FCI - 50 months, plus consecutive 10 months - Served 26 months, release date August 2022 - Sleep apnea, asthma, morbidly obese - Reject government argument that asthma is well controlled - "The COVID-19 virus is highly infectious and can be transmitted easily from person to person. COVID-19 fatality rates increase with age and underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, and immune compromise. If contracted, COVID-19 can cause severe complications or death. Because there is no current vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") recommends preventative measures to decrease transmission such as physical distancing, mask wearing, and increasing focus on personal hygiene such as additional hand washing." [...] - granting CR to individual who received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine because his "vaccination status does not greatly decrease the court’s concern that his medical conditions increase his risk of severe illness due to COVID-19" [...] - Granting CR even though she "has received a COVID-19 vaccine, [Ms. Bozon Pappa] submitted evidence that the vaccine may not be completely effective in persons with obesity"
Claim: [It] is nearly impossible to categorize post-vaccine deaths as vaccine-related (Baxter Dmitry, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2019-10-15)
Evidence (2019-10-15): The World Health Organization’s system of classifying adverse events following immunization (AEFI) does allow for the recording and investigation of adverse events even after vaccines are licensed for use. Peer-reviewed studies and ongoing AEFI surveillance using systems such as the US-based Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) show that adverse events continue to be monitored post-licensure. However, the WHO’s AEFI protocol is not implemented by the US healthcare system, so it does not make sense to claim that the protocol enables the US government to cover up vaccine deaths.
Claim: [It] is nearly impossible to categorize post-vaccine deaths as vaccine-related (Baxter Dmitry, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2019-10-15)
Evidence (2023-03-27): Table 1 Characteristics of the study population for deaths after vaccination, young people aged 12-29, resident in England, who died between 8 December 2020 − 25 May 2022 (registered by 8 June 2022) for ONS registered deaths, and who died 8 December 2020 − 31 March 2022 for HES hospital deaths [...] Fig. 2: Relative incidence of cardiac and all-cause death in the risk period after vaccination, compared to the baseline period, by sex, age group and vaccine vector. [...] For all three analyses of death after vaccination, varying defined lengths of risk period were consistent with the main findings in remaining below or not significantly different to 1 (Supplementary Fig. 7). For analyses of deaths after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test for individuals unvaccinated at the date of test registration, estimates of relative incidence of all-cause death were greater for shorter risk period definitions, particularly for hospital deaths. While convergence towards one was observed as the defined risk period was increased, complete convergence was not observed, with the relative incidence appearing to stabilise above one for all-cause and cardiac deaths (Supplementary Fig. 7A). For analyses of deaths after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test for individuals vaccinated at date of test registration (Supplementary Fig. 8B), estimates of the relative incidence of all-cause registered the death and all-cause hospital death were greater for shorter risk period definitions and converged to 1 as the risk period was increased.
Claim: [It] is nearly impossible to categorize post-vaccine deaths as vaccine-related (Baxter Dmitry, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2019-10-15)
Evidence (2024-01-16): This national investigation has identified adults who remained at increased risk of COVID-19 death after receiving a second dose booster vaccination in England in Autumn 2022. Our results indicate that having learning disabilities or Down’s syndrome, pulmonary hypertension or fibrosis, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia or Huntington’s disease, cancer of blood and bone marrow, Parkinson’s disease, lung or oral cancer, dementia or liver cirrhosis were independently associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 related death. For cancer of blood or bone marrow, CKD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypotension or fibrosis or rheumatoid arthritis or SLE the increase in the relative risk was greater for COVID-19 death than non-COVID-19 death. Our findings suggest individuals in those groups were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 death relative to other causes of death. For instance, for people with rheumatoid arthritis or SLE, the risk of dying from non-COVID-19 causes was not significantly different from people without these diagnoses; however, the risk was higher for COVID-19 death. [...] Agrawal, U. et al. COVID-19 hospital admissions and deaths after BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccinations in 2.57 million people in Scotland (EAVE II): a prospective cohort study,. Lancet Respir. Med.9, 1439–1449 (2021).