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    Correcting this week’s misinformation: week of January 29, 2026

    Is Vitamin D more powerful than vaccines?

    The Claim:

    Robert Malone recently claimed that Dr. Tony Fauci stopped research on vitamin D because it was not about vaccines. He claimed this happened, even though Army researchers believed that vitamin D helped protect soldiers from respiratory illnesses.

    The Facts:

    There is no proof that Dr. Anthony Fauci stopped any research on vitamin D in the military. The idea that he did it because “we treat infectious diseases with vaccines, not with nutritional supplements,” Dr. Fauci is a doctor who studies the immune system, and he knows two important things:

    1. “Infectious diseases” means any disease caused by germs, not just ones for which vaccines exist.
    2. Vaccines don’t “treat” diseases like medicine does. Vaccines help prevent people from catching certain diseases. They do not cure someone after they are sick.

    Many adults in the United States don’t have enough vitamin D: around 35% have low levels. Vitamin D is needed for bones, muscles, nerves, and the immune system to work well. But if someone already has enough vitamin D, taking extra won’t make them healthier.

    Did COVID vaccines damage every single heart?

    The Claim:

    Anti-vaxxers published a study that claims COVID vaccines can quietly damage the heart in some people, so everyone who got vaccinated should be checked for heart problems.

    The Facts:

    This study was published in a predatory journal. Predatory journals are low-quality publications that pretend to be real scientific journals but do not properly check whether the research is accurate. The study was also promoted on another site by one of its authors. That site presents itself as a journal, but it works more like a blog. Its editorial board includes well-known anti-vaccine figures, including Peter McCullough, who is also an author of the study.

    In contrast, research published in respected journals such as The Lancet shows a small increase in the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, which can make it harder for the heart to pump normally and may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or a fast heartbeat. Pericarditis is inflammation of the thin sac around the heart, which can cause sharp chest pain that may feel worse when breathing in or lying down.

    These conditions are rare, and the overall risk remains low. In most cases, vaccine-related myocarditis is mild and goes away quickly. Heart problems happen more often after a COVID-19 infection than after vaccination. One study found that myocarditis rates were higher in males under 40 after vaccination than after COVID infection. However, the researchers also found that myocarditis caused by COVID illness had a much higher risk of heart failure or death than myocarditis linked to vaccination. Many studies explain that the risk of myocarditis from COVID is greater and more serious than the risk from the vaccines.

    Is sushi as dangerous in pregnancy as vaccination?

    The Claim:

    Dr. Simone Gold posted a video that claims even though pregnant women were once warned to avoid things like sushi and wine, they are now being told to get four vaccines during pregnancy, including one the she says cannot be “turned off.”

    The Facts:

    During pregnancy, people are told to avoid sushi made with raw fish because it can carry harmful germs or parasites that can make someone very sick. Some fish can also have high levels of methylmercury, which can harm a baby’s growing brain and nervous system. They are also told to avoid alcohol because it can pass through the placenta into the baby’s body. A developing baby cannot break down alcohol well, and alcohol can damage the baby’s brain and cause lifelong learning and behavior problems.

    In a similar way, doctors often advise people to get certain vaccines during pregnancy to help protect both the mother and the baby from serious diseases like pertussis, RSV, COVID, and influenza. These diseases can be more dangerous during pregnancy because pregnancy changes how the immune system, heart, and lungs work. Vaccines can also help protect the baby after birth because the mother can pass protective antibodies to the baby before delivery. These vaccines are studied and evaluated for safety during pregnancy.

    Pertussis, also called whooping cough, can be very dangerous for newborns because their airways are small and they are too young to be fully vaccinated. It can cause severe coughing fits, trouble breathing, pneumonia, and even death. RSV is a virus that can cause serious lung infections in babies, especially in the first few months of life. It can lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and some babies need to be hospitalized for oxygen or breathing support. COVID can be risky in pregnancy because it can make the mother seriously ill and may raise the chance of problems like early birth. Influenza, or the flu, can also hit pregnant people harder and can lead to high fever, dehydration, pneumonia, and early labor, which can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby.

    The video claims that COVID vaccines are a “gene product with no off switch,” but that is not how mRNA works. mRNA is a short-lived set of instructions that tells cells how to make a harmless piece of a virus so the immune system can learn to fight it. It does not enter the part of the cell where DNA is kept, and it cannot change your genes. It also breaks down quickly and does not stay in the body forever.

    Miscarriage is sadly common. Up to about 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, including very early miscarriages that happen before someone even knows they are pregnant. In the COVID vaccine clinical trials, the number of miscarriages was within that expected range. The same was true for other pregnancy-related problems reported in the study.

    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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