Health
The Covid vaccines are not ‘poison’
The benefits of Covid vaccination outweigh the risks for most people, and although mild side effects are common, serious ones are rare. Read
Fact checks
Covid-19 fact checks
This page brings together Full Fact’s fact checks on Covid-19, covering common claims, vaccine safety and efficacy, symptoms, treatments, government policies, and misinformation. We review evidence, correct errors, and monitor evolving science to help you make informed decisions.
Health
Age UK did not say that elderly suicides rose during lockdown
A Telegraph article reported comments made during the Covid Inquiry, which inaccurately described the content of Age UK’s witness statement. Read
Fact checks
Health
Rapid tests for both Covid and flu don’t prove infections are the same thing
Tests with two different wells for samples that can detect three different infections do not prove the infections are the same. Read
Fact checks
Tesco has not reintroduced ‘traffic light’ lockdown measure in its stores
A video showing green and red lights at Tesco Swindon has sparked speculation on social media. Read
Fact checks
Health
Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t raise risk of catching and dying from the disease
An uncertain statistical finding in a single study is heavily outweighed by a large body of evidence showing that the Covid vaccines reduce your chance of severe Covid. Read
Fact checks
Health
‘Legacy’ wording on UKHSA job advert not proof of a planned pandemic
Social media posts suggest a UKHSA job advert shows that a new pandemic is being planned. But the UKHSA says the wording from the advert is a “legacy” from before the Covid-19 vaccine rollout began. Read
Fact checks
Health
Covid-19 vaccines not ‘Mass Genocide’ of children
A Facebook post repeats the claim that Covid vaccines are causing death to children on a large scale. This isn’t true. Read
Fact checks
Health
Government spent much more than £18bn on the Covid health response
£18 billion went towards the NHS in England’s frontline Covid response in 2020/21, but far more was spent on other health programmes such as test and trace and buying PPE. Read
Fact checks
Health
The EG.5 variant of Covid-19 has nothing to do with 5G
Videos from a popular Instagram influencer wrongly suggest that the 5G network is somehow causing disease associated with the new Covid variant. Read
Fact checks
Health
ONS data shows lower death rates in people vaccinated against Covid-19
A video from the US is circulating on social media again, claiming that mortality data in the UK shows Covid-19 vaccines to cause a large increase in deaths. This is not what the data shows. Read
Fact checks
