The White House's appointees are lying about what COVID vaccines can do

The worst misinformation is government sponsored

Misinformation is information that is false. But in science, misinformation is also making claims that one does not have evidence to support. If I were to say that turmeric helps ear aches in Iceland— one cannot cite a study proving I am wrong — but I should not say it, as I have no evidence it is true.

This doesn’t stop the government. See the recent statement by Deputy CDC Director that kids should get a COVID shot to protect grandma.

There is no evidence that this statement is true. Walid Gellad, a wise doctor, believes it might be true— to a small degree. I think it is more akin to pouring a bottle of water on your lawn and thinking it will slow a forest fire. The vaccine works too poorly at preventing transmission and too few people get it for any meaningful impact on transmission dynamics.

But regardless, it is irresponsible— and really propaganda to make this statement to coerce vaccination in minors. He has no suitable evidence to know if vaccinating kids slows spread to adults. Pfizer could have been compelled to test this claim, but they have not.

Walid notes this is not the first time this administration has made this error.

Again, highly irresponsible and unproven statement from Jha. Misinformation used to further a political goal of pushing vaccination in healthy middle aged and young people.

Fringe elements have always existed in society, and will always exist. They will hold views that are counter to consensus and many which are false. But the establishment, and scientists, should be more circumspect and accurate in their comments. Inventing facts to further political agendas is not science, but propaganda. It is the most dangerous sort of misinformation because it will only result in total collapse in trust.

This is already happening.