The Claim:
In a viral tweet, one anti-vaxxer claims that bacterial meningitis is made up to push more vaccines on people.
The Facts:
A scary meningitis outbreak in the UK has sparked a new conspiracy theory. But this kind of idea is not new. It follows an old pattern of making people distrust doctors and public health leaders. These theories often claim the disease is fake or created on purpose, and that officials are using it to control people.
The outbreak in the UK is caused by a known type called meningococcal B. This same type has caused all college meningitis outbreaks in the U.S. since 2011. These outbreaks are usually controlled by giving vaccines, tracking who was exposed, and giving antibiotics. Not with lockdowns.
Meningococcal disease is rare, but it can spread quickly and be very dangerous. It can cause serious infections in the brain or blood. Healthy kids and teens can die within hours. Some people who survive may lose limbs or have lasting brain damage. Vaccines are one of the best ways to stay protected from this disease.
Disclaimer
Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved too since this was originally posted. Be sure to check out our most recent posts and browse the latest Just the Facts Topics for the latest.
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