Tucker Carlson Video Spreads Falsehoods on COVID-19 Vaccines, WHO Accord

SciCheck Digest Contrary to claims amplified by podcaster Bret Weinstein during an interview with Tucker Carlson, COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives, not killed 17 million people worldwide. Weinstein also inaccurately characterized a proposed World Health Organization pandemic accord and other changes, claiming they aim to take away “personal and national sovereignty.” Full Story COVID-19 vaccines& reduce& the& risk& of& severe& COVID-19, including in& children, and serious side effects are& rare. Increasing evidence indicates they reduce the risk of long COVID, and they are estimated to have saved millions of lives. Still, various people have persisted in making egregiously false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, blaming them for& hundreds& of& thousands& of deaths in the U.S., or& millions& of deaths globally. According to a& survey& conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center,& FactCheck.org’s parent organization, over time more and more Americans have come to incorrectly believe that the COVID-19 vaccines have killed large numbers of people. In August 2023, for example, 34% of respondents said it was probably or definitely true that the COVID-19 vaccines had killed thousands of people in the U.S., up from 22% in June 2021. Recently, podcaster and former biology professor& Bret Weinstein& — known for&...