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    Correcting this week’s misinformation: week of May 15, 2025

    Do vaccines contain RoundUp?

    The Claim:

    video circulating online claims that a group tested childhood vaccines and found every single vial contained glyphosate, the active ingredient in RoundUp.

    The Facts:

    The claim is made by Moms Across America through a study they commissioned and was given a boost by a glyphosate-cancer lawsuit in 2018.

    The study conducted used unreliable techniques for finding small amounts of chemicals.

    In addition, glyphosate is not metabolized by anything other than the soil’s microbiota, and there is little evidence that it could even make its way into vaccines. It’s simply not a plausible theory.

    Do COVID vaccines grow spike proteins in your heart?

    The Claim:

    Another video claims that repeated mRNA booster shots let the vaccine’s code reach the heart, make spike protein that scars heart tissue, disrupts its rhythm, and could cause sudden death.

    The Facts:

    The claims are based on articles that tried to present a new way to view the biodistribution of nanoparticles in cells, or how tiny particles move around and spread inside cells, where they go, how much of them reach different parts of the cell, and how long they stay there. The researchers tested different amounts of nanoparticles in mice, using various ways to give them, but the results might not apply to humans because mice and people have different body systems, including those that metabolize (process) substances and fight illnesses.

    The study found that, no matter how the nanoparticles are administered, tagged pieces of mRNA were found in immune cells, the liver (which helps filter waste from the body), and the lungs if given through the nose. Almost none, if any, was found in the brain or heart. The mRNA levels were much lower when smaller doses, like those used in vaccines, were tested.

    This doesn’t change the fact that almost all large studies and real-world data show that mRNA vaccines are safe and effective, with serious side effects, like heart inflammation, being rare and usually mild.

    Do COVID vaccines cause autoimmune problems?

    The Claim:

    Dr. Ryan Cole, a pathologist, claims in a video that mRNA vaccines are unsafe experiments that contain extra DNA, create harmful mutant proteins, and will lead to immune disorders, fast‑growing cancers, lower fertility, and more deaths worldwide.

    The Facts:

    Ryan Cole has previously claimed that a journal-published paper showed that mRNA vaccines caused cancer and autoimmune issues. However, the lead author of that paper emphasizes that there is no evidence for these claims.

    These current claims that vaccine vials contained unsafe levels of DNA come from expired, improperly stored samples, making the results unreliable. Importantly, mRNA vaccines are not gene therapy and cannot alter human DNA.

    Large population studies that tracked millions of vaccinated people found no surge in long‑term autoimmune disorders; in fact, catching COVID‑19 itself poses a far bigger autoimmune risk than getting the shot.

    Research on couples, IVF clinics, and more than 100,000 pregnancies shows the vaccines are not associated with risks for fertility, pregnancies, or babies, and vaccination actually lowers the risk of severe illness during pregnancy.

    Multiple studies comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated adults in several countries found no higher rate of sudden deaths or overall mortality after vaccination; some even show lower death rates among the vaccinated group.

    After billions of doses, the real‑world picture is clear: mRNA vaccines save lives without rewriting DNA, seeding hidden cancers, or stopping people from having healthy children—far from dangerous experiments, they are safe and the most closely watched medical tools ever used.

    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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