AFP Canada

Gates Foundation targeted with misleading claims about India polio vaccine campaign

Published on 21 May 2020 at 18:05

Social media posts and online articles shared tens of thousands of times claim that the foundation of billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates tested a polio vaccine in India that left at least 490,000 children paralyzed. The claim is misleading; official statistics show only a tiny number of cases in which the oral polio vaccine directly resulted in Indian children contracting the disease.

False claim about early-years vaccines spreading on social media

Published on 21 May 2020 at 15:48Updated on 29 May 2020 at 21:01

A post shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook claims that a list of 26 substances, some said to be “carcinogenic” or “toxic,” will be administered to children six years old and younger through vaccination. The claim is false. Although some of the ingredients listed do feature in children’s vaccines, the doses involved are not toxic, pass through the body and ensure the reliability of the vaccination, according to health experts.

Misleading article warns against face masks during COVID-19 pandemic

Published on 19 May 2020 at 23:08

An article that has been widely shared on social media warns healthy people against wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing alleged risks. But experts say masks can help curb the spread of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and that the article contains multiple false or misleading claims.

Website falsely claims mask-wearing is mandatory in Canada during COVID-19

Published on 19 May 2020 at 22:28Updated on 19 May 2020 at 22:47

Articles claim that not wearing a mask in Canada during the novel coronavirus pandemic can lead to a Can$3,000 fine or jail time. This is false. Masks are required aboard airplanes and by certain stores, but AFP did not find any Canadian jurisdiction where wearing them on the street is mandatory.

Posts on chest x-rays do not show likely impact of COVID-19

Published on 18 May 2020 at 23:42

Social media posts featuring chest x-ray images claim to show the impact of diseases including COVID-19. But most COVID-19 cases do not lead to an x-ray result like the one pictured in the posts, and other medical conditions can cause similar results, experts say.