Summary
Claims about a South Korean study suggesting that COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer have spread online. However, these claims misinterpret the study, which found a statistical link but did not prove vaccines cause cancer. Several figures used their titles to falsely increase the credibility of these claims.
Key Facts
- A viral claim suggested that a South Korean study proved COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer.
- The study was titled “1-year risks of cancers associated with COVID-19 vaccination” and published in Biomarker Research.
- The study found a statistical link between vaccination and certain cancer diagnoses within a year, not a direct cause.
- Social media accounts misrepresented this link as proof of increased cancer risk due to vaccines.
- Influencers used professional titles to spread misleading figures, including a claimed 27% overall cancer risk increase.
- Al Jazeera's fact-checking found that these claims left out important context, misrepresenting the study's findings.
