Kit Yates

“Several posts on Facebook claim that mpox (the disease caused by the monkeypox virus) is actually a side effect of the Covid-19 vaccines. This is not true.”

Can’t believe we even need these fact checking articles. It’s a sad reflection of where we are.

https://fullfact.org/health/mpox-covid-vaccines/?utm_content=buffer5bc9d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Mpox has nothing to do with the Covid-19 vaccines - Full Fact

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus. It is not a side effect of vaccination.

Full Fact
Aug 21, 2024 at 7:26amWeb
Show threadSteven HeywoodAug 21, 2024
@kityates
Of all the stupidly irresponsible things to go culture warring about, the derangement of public health has to be the worst. Still, what's the health of millions and death and death of many thousands when they can stick it to the global elite and feel good about their ignorance?
Show threadenoch_exe_incAug 21, 2024
@kityates It’s the collapse of rationalism and scientific thinking. I have said this countless times over the years: if you do not teach the essential principles of scientific inquiry and only the theories produced by them, you will end up with people who unquestionably accept dogma and superstition simply because it *looks* like science.
Show threadGammee16Aug 21, 2024
@kityates They'll say anything for attention, whether it be negative or not.
Show threadNiniAug 21, 2024
@kityates Probably needs a second fact check to confirm that the virus that causes mpox is also called mpox and hasn't been called monkeypox since 2022.
Show threadbananamangodogAug 21, 2024
@kityates Whilst I acknowledge it is disinformation I think the question often overlooked is why people continue to believe these things. There was a study done during COVID (I really hope I can find it again) about misinformation and why certain communities believe lies like this one. It found particularly in areas of the USA with high African-American populations this type of misinformation was more likely to be believed as many have memories or knowledge of vaccination regimes that did actually spread smallpox amongst these communities knowingly.
It takes numerous generations for this kind of distrust to stop influencing opinion when justice is never achieved.
Show threadToni AittoniemiAug 21, 2024

@kityates It’s not a function of bad facts imo. It’s much more a function of most social media traffic being about group identity signalling rather than discussion.

We humans cannot help but behave differently when everyone is watching. And enough people not being able to tell that they’ve switched that creates this problem.

Show threadSven RudloffAug 21, 2024
@kityates I would call today „the web Dark Ages“ but this would be unfair to the actual Dark Ages (which were often more enlightened than we give them credit).
Show threadJ.H.NoyesAug 21, 2024

@kityates

MPox is generally an opportunistic infection. This new strain has either had its virulence enhanced, or is exploiting the rift torn by serial Covid infections. Or both--there's no reason why both can't be true.

The current outbreak exceeds 15,000 chained cases. Prior outbreaks were very limited 10 cases here, 8 cases there. 77 in Congo from 1996 to 1997.

Something has changed. The blasè attitude being promoted by world governments and the media makes little sense.