A Facebook video showing a man shouting false information about the COVID-19 vaccine in a Specsavers ophthalmology store was shared online.
The three-minute video was captioned: ‘Had to go to Specsavers for some BIG truth bombs!’ and got 822 likes so far (here) However, the main allegations made in the video are false.
The man says: “Do not take the vaccine. It is not a vaccine; they’re trying to kill us. Do you understand? They are trying to kill us and they are trying to kill our children. There are lipid nanoparticles in it to genetically modify your DNA. ”(1.18)
First, the jab is a vaccine. These comments may refer to previously refuted claims that only governments call the Pfizer-BioNTech and Modern COVID-19 jabs’ vaccines’ and that the companies themselves call them ‘biological agents’ and an’ operating system designed to program people ‘. (here)
Second, the vaccine is safe. The COVID-19 vaccines rolled out in the UK have been approved after major clinical trials, and Reuters has reviewed previous claims about their safety (here, here and here).
Third, the lipid nanoparticles in a COVID-19 vaccine cannot alter your DNA. Lipid nanoparticles are small droplets of water that are not soluble in water, such as fats, whose role is to transport and protect the vaccine component, as explained in another Reuters fact check (here).
None of the COVID-19 vaccines modify your DNA. Confusion over this issue may have arisen due to new mRNA technology used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which includes the injection of a small portion of the virus’ genetic code (RNA) into the immune response in a to stimulate patient without an infection (here and here). The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is described as a viral vector vaccine, which uses a modified virus to deliver the instructions into the recipient cells and activate an immune response (here and bit.ly/2ZJbvRW). Reuters has made similar claims here, here and here.
Finally, the speaker adds: ‘We are human, we produce these things in our body anyway. Your vaccine is your fruit and vegetables. ‘(2.48) This is untrue. The NHS states that while there are many health benefits to eating a balanced diet (here), a COVID-19 vaccine will give you the best protection against the new coronavirus (here and here).
VERDICT
Untrue. This video repeats incorrect information about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.