As a new highly contagious strain of mpox spreads globally and begins affecting children even under 25, misinformation reminiscent of the COVID-19 era is spreading across different social media platforms. The most prolific of these are claims that mpox, a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, is actually a side effect of COVID-19 vaccines.

For instance, a user on X.com wrote, "Wait, MPOX was side effect of the COVID vaccine, and they named it another virus and also made a vaccine for MPOX Dead on arrival."

Another post in response to a news report, that speaks of mpox being detected in a correctional facility in the US State Iowa, said, “Person was likely vaccinated. The so-called mpox is one of the adverse effects of the MRNA jabs. Not getting into any hysteria about this.”

Others have claimed that the Mpox infection is nothing but run-of-the-mill shingles that has started in reaction to the COVID 19 vaccine.

Are these cases of Monkey Pox?

Nope

They are all adverse reactions to the experimental mRNA Gene Therapy in which millions of people developed Shingles as a known side effect. pic.twitter.com/v96SchZAyS

— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) August 18, 2024

A purported video of a German doctor, who seems to be repeating the same claims, is also being shared widely, dubbed in different languages. "For heaven's sake, this is the typical clinical picture for shingles... It is a business exploiting the effects of the corona shots they pushed on us. They are using corona side effects to invent new schemes and scare us again," the doctor purportedly says in the video.

German Doctor Exposes Monkey Pox Scam: Says It's a COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effect👇 pic.twitter.com/Nn16ByMWEq

— Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) August 23, 2024

What is even more concerning is that some of these claims are coming from verified handles that have thousands of followers.

This post on X.com, which appears to be pushing similar misinformation, was shared by a verified handle who has close to 12,000 followers. “The only ones who are denying it are the same ones who faithfully opted into getting the experimental vaccine and will unfortunately perish soon anyway. The Mpox vaccine has been approved to be distributed in America, which will finish them off as the rash people are getting is an adverse reaction to the vaccine that they have already taken. It is sad and unfortunate to think about, but we will have a better chance at saving this world when they are gone," it said.

So what are the facts?

Mpox is not the ‘new COVID.’

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge in a statement has said that Mpox is not the ‘new COVID.’ “Based on what we do know, mpox primarily transmits through skin-to-skin contact with mpox lesions, including during sex,” he said.

Microbiologist and immunologist Kari Moore Debbink from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US has stated in an interview that the COVID mRNA vaccines were used globally, while mpox cases are typically found in specific countries in Africa, with some low case numbers outside of those regions. Therefore, Dr Debbink says there is no geographic link between COVID mRNA vaccine use and mpox cases.