An article circulating on social media states that a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that “3,150 people were paralyzed” after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The article lacks context.
The figure corresponds to the number of “health impact events” registered by V-safe (here), a smartphone-based tool that uses text messages and web recordings to provide personalized health examinations after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination (here ). These events have been reported by people whose symptoms have caused one or more of the following: “unable to perform normal daily activities, unable to work, and / or in need of a physician or health worker” . According to a CDC spokesperson, registrants on V-safe can choose one or more “events” within this category, and the figure “does not necessarily represent 3,150 people”.
The article entitled “CDC Report – 3,150 People Paralyzed After COVID-19 Vaccine” Unable to Perform Normal Daily Activities “which is distributed under screenshot and on Facebook, was published on December 22 on the website Great Game India here (here archive version: archive .vn / GRm9f).
Some posts on social media with a screenshot of the article are visible here, here, here.
The article begins: “According to a new CDC report, nearly 3,150 people who were given the COVID-19 vaccine were paralyzed and ‘unable to perform normal daily activities’, unable to work and they had to be cared for by a doctor or a health worker ‘. “
The relevant CDC report from 19 December 2020 can be seen here (slide 6). The references given correspond to the figures reported by V-safe (here).
Martha Sharan, a spokeswoman for the CDC, told Reuters in an email that this mid-December figure represents the number of “health impact events” of the 112,807 people registered with V-safe and receiving a first dose. has. the vaccine.
She added that a person using V-safe could mark ‘all the subjects’ (could not perform normal daily activities, could not work, and / or needed a doctor or health worker), and therefore contained’ 3 150 reports not necessarily 3 150. people ”.
For example, someone who needs ‘care from a doctor or health care professional’ would also probably not ‘work’ or ‘perform normal daily activities’.
The spokesperson did not specify the symptoms reported by the V-safe registrants, nor did she provide a detailed explanation of the 3,150 consequences for health impact.
‘We expect someone to be vaccinated to have side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building up protection. These side effects can affect your ability to do daily activities, but they will go away within a few days, ‘she said.
According to the CDC here, common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination include pain and swelling at the injection site, as well as fever, chills, fatigue, and headaches.
Although this is a form of speech and a true misinterpretation of the CDC health events, the headline of the article is missing that 3,150 people were “paralyzed” after receiving the vaccination.
VERDICT
Missing context. A 2020 CDC report recorded ‘3,150 health impact events’ from people who reported that they’ were unable to perform normal daily activities, were unable to work, or that they needed a doctor or health worker’s care ‘, after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. According to a CDC spokesperson, the “3 150 figure does not necessarily represent 3 150 people”, as registrants can choose one or more opportunities.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.