What do COVID variants mean for vaccine efficacy?
- Dr. Rohini Karandikar / 3 years
- 0
- 5 min read
Dr. Rohini Karandikar tells you all you need to know about COVID-19 variants and its implications on vaccine efficacy.
18
May
May
14
May
May
Post claiming vaccinated people are more susceptible to COVID-19 variants is misleading
- Jisha Krishnan / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Social media posts, based on a recent study conducted in Israel on the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on the South African variant of the coronavirus, have been fuelling vaccine hesitancy in India.
12
May
May
There’s no scientific proof that alum water can cure COVID-19
- Tej Kumar / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
A video shared thousands of times claims that alum water can save people from contracting the deadly virus and make coronavirus patients healthy. The claim is FALSE.
12
May
May
Real vs fake Remdesivir injections: Know the difference
- Tej Kumar / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
An injection named Covipri is circulating on social media, with many referring to it as the Remdesivir injection. Here’s all you need to know how to differentiate between real and fake Remdesivir injections
07
May
May
No, taking a concoction of pepper, honey and ginger will not cure COVID-19
- Pushpita Dey / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Despite a crackdown on misinformation, unproven cures and remedies continue to find their way on social media.
04
May
May
YouTube videos suggesting home remedies to increase oxygen are False
- Sahil Bali / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
There is no scientific evidence to prove that a combination of camphor, cloves, carom seeds and a few drops of eucalyptus oil can help in increasing oxygen levels in the body.
02
May
May
Video claiming tap water tested positive for COVID-19 is misleading
- Abeen Shayiq / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A video indicating that tap water can test positive for Covid-19 and that the disease can spread through water is misleading
01
May
May
Homoeopathic medicine Aspidosperma Q does not instantly increase oxygen levels
- Pushpita Dey / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
Intake of a few drops of Aspidosperma Q in water will not immediately increase the oxygen level in the body
26
Apr
Apr
No, an empty nebuliser is not a substitute for oxygen cylinder
- Sahil Bali / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Using a nebuliser in place of an oxygen cylinder will not increase oxygen levels in the body.
26
Apr
Apr
IAF official hasn’t written any message on using steam to counter COVID-19
- Tej Kumar / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
There is no Air Marshal Ashutosh Sharma at Bangalore. Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore is headed by Air Vice Marshal Ashutosh Sharma and the message in question has not been originated by him.
25
Apr
Apr
Post warning women not to take COVID-19 vaccine during periods is ‘false’
- Tej Kumar / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t pose a risk if taken during periods.
23
Apr
Apr
NSA Ajit Doval didn’t write a letter lauding Kumbh efforts
- First Check Team / 3 years
- 0
- 1 min read
Government officials confirmed that reports of the so-called letter praising the Uttarakhand govt for Kumbh efforts are fake.
22
Apr
Apr
Starting a steam inhalation drive will not end the pandemic
- Tej Kumar / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
As India is witnessing a surge in cases, preventions and cures for Covid-19 are getting wide popularity on social media. We at First Check have received a WhatsApp message from multiple sources within a span of 4-5 days promoting and convincing people to start a steam inhalation initiative. It also urges people to forward the message twice or thrice daily.
19
Apr
Apr
False claim uses Japanese Nobel laureate Tasuku Honjo name again to spread COVID-19 misinformation
- First Check Team / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
As the world grapples with a health crisis and misinformation, false claims are re-emerging despite being debunked earlier.
16
Apr
Apr
No evidence to prove COVID-19 vaccine causes heart attacks
- Tej Kumar / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A social media post promoting a correlation between the COVID-19 vaccine and heart attacks is getting wide popularity. However, there is no evidence to link the two.
12
Apr
Apr
Post claiming sanitary pads cause cancer is false
- Pankhuri Agarwal / 3 years
- 0
- 4 min read
An Instagram post claiming prolonged use of sanitary pads can cause bladder and uterine cancer is misleading and unscientific.
09
Apr
Apr
Videos promoting COVID-19 conspiracies are re-emerging despite a crackdown
- Abeen Shayiq / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A year after the pandemic, the conspiracy theory that coronavirus is a hoax and that Bill Gates and Dr Fauci are behind it is again gaining popularity. Animated videos and adapted cartoon characters from cartoon series are being used this time. However, there is no evidence to support the claim.
02
Apr
Apr
COVID-19 vaccination: Beware of bogus dos & don’ts
- Jisha Krishnan / 3 years
- 0
- 2 min read
While proper nutrition and hydration are essential for good health, there’s no evidence to support claims made by a WhatsApp forward to reduce the side effects of vaccines.
22
Mar
Mar
Debunked claims of COVID-19 cures resurface in vernacular language
- Sista Mukherjee / 3 years
- 0
- 3 min read
First Check found videos encouraging unscientific cures of COVID-19 on YouTube in Bengali – a language mostly spoken in West Bengal state of India and Bangladesh.
15
Mar
Mar
Are DIY disinfectants safe?
- First Check Team / 4 years
- 0
- 4 min read
Youtube is awash with how to disinfect surfaces and many people have resorted to trying to make their own disinfectants by watching viral do-it-yourself (DIY) videos and YouTube tutorials. But mixing chemicals in the wrong proportion can at best create an ineffective product – and at worst result in poisoning.
15
Mar
Mar
First Check now a member of the International Fact-Checking Network
- First Check Team / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
First Check, the health fact-checking initiative of Health Analytics Asia, is now a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, USA.
06
Mar
Mar
Misleading WhatsApp message questions Pfizer vaccine efficacy
- Pankhuri Agarwal / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A recent WhatsApp message presented a series of arguments discrediting the claimed 95% efficacy of Pfizer vaccine. The message is partly correct, but it is misleading people by claiming that the clinical trial was conducted on a selected group of participants aimed for optimal results.
01
Mar
Mar
This tonic of leaves cannot cure HIV
- Tej Kumar / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
There is no scientific evidence to prove that a health drink made of Indian date leaves, sacred fig leaves, and Cynodon leaves can cure HIV
20
Feb
Feb
No evidence to say that COVID-19 vaccines affect pregnancy
- First Check Team / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Currently, there is no established link between miscarriages after COVID-19 immunization as only limited data is available
19
Feb
Feb
Three-pronged approach to fight the infodemic
- Dr. Apurva Kumar Pandya / 4 years
- 0
- 4 min read
Misinformation and rumours are three times more likely to be spread on social media as compared to accurate information. We need to adopt evidence-informed measures from a transdisciplinary perspective to win the battle against this parallel pandemic.
15
Feb
Feb
No, incense sticks do not ward off Covid-19
- Tej Kumar / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A popular YouTube channel claims that smouldering incense sticks can ward off coronavirus and that there is no need to get vaccinated for coronavirus as the positive energy from incense sticks can cure Covid-19. The claim is false and has no scientific evidence.
13
Feb
Feb
Can COVID-19 hygiene measures cause cancer?
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
Here is what Google Trends say on what was most searched when Covid-19 was at its peak in 2020 By Nabeela Khan The pandemic brought along with it a few health protocols – recommended by the WHO and the CDC, as also various governments. Wearing a mask, washing hands regularly with soap, use of infrared […]
13
Feb
Feb
Covid vaccine scams hit Asia
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 5 min read
Fraudsters in Asia are sending out fake texts, offering a Covid vaccine or registration for the vaccine in an attempt to steal personal and financial information. By Nabeela Khan At a time, when vaccines are being rolled out all around the world, people are eager to receive vaccines. But the process of vaccinating millions of […]
05
Feb
Feb
‘Stop the spread of Germans’ image is manipulated
- Sahil Bali / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
An image circulating on social media saying “stop the spread of Germans” is clearly manipulated
01
Feb
Feb
No, COVID-19 vaccines neither make farmers sterile nor is a government ploy to take over their land
- Sahil Bali / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A Facebook page and its corresponding Youtube channel claim that coronavirus vaccination is an attempt to make people infertile so that people stop reproducing. When there is nobody to inherit the land, the land will be acquired by the government.
25
Jan
Jan
Misleading message about Covid-19 vaccine efficacy viral on WhatsApp
- Abeen Bilal / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A Whatsapp message with a number of assumptions and questions about the efficacy of covid vaccines is circulating in India. The claims in the message are misleading.
19
Jan
Jan
Post about vaccines containing toxic levels of ingredients is misleading
- Sahil Bali / 4 years
- 0
- 5 min read
The substances listed in the social media post are present in certain vaccines but medical research suggests the levels are not harmful.
15
Jan
Jan
No, coronavirus doesn’t lay eggs in throat, nor it can be cured in a day with herbal vaporizers
- Sista Mukherjee / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
There is no study to back the claim that coronavirus lays eggs in the throat and inhaling a herbal concoction can cure Covid-19 in a day. The claims in this Youtube video are false.
11
Jan
Jan
Explained: Is eating poultry products safe amid bird flu?
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
WHO guidelines and experts recommend that it is safe to eat properly cooked eggs, chicken, and other poultry products.
09
Jan
Jan
Can red ant chutney cure Coronavirus?
- Tej Kumar / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
Multiple Facebook posts claim that red ant chutney (sauce) is the divine medicine for coronavirus. We fact-checked the claim and found the origin of this statement. There is no scientific evidence yet to prove it as a possible cure.
06
Jan
Jan
A false video on YouTube claims COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in men
- Tej Kumar / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
The COVID-19 vaccine does not cause infertility; the rumour is unfounded and has no scientific evidence backing the claim.
23
Dec
Dec
No, six-minute walk is not a test for COVID-19
- Tej Kumar / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
The recent misinformation trending on social media is the six-minute walk test which is performed by doctors on Covid patients to further evaluate the condition of heart and lungs.
08
Dec
Dec
Facebook to prohibit ads that discourage vaccines
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Facebook has also said it will start prohibiting Ads that discourage vaccines and will also remove false claims about COVID-19 vaccines.
26
Nov
Nov
Fact-checking medical misinformation
- Jisha Krishnan / 4 years
- 0
- 4 min read
Top fact-checkers from Asia share personal stories, deep insights, and practical tips to tackle the avalanche of health fake news at the Misinformation in Medicine Summit 2020.
No, ‘virus shutout necklaces’ cannot protect you from coronavirus
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to claim more lives, more and more products are popping up falsely claiming to prevent the disease. One of those products getting popularity now in India is a so-called “virus shut out” necklace.
Vaccine hesitancy due to disinformation campaign, shows BMJ study
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
Social media disinformation campaigns are linked to falling vaccination rates, a study published in the online British Medical Journal for Global Health reveals.
Debunking 6 viral claims about COVID-19 remedies
- First Check Team / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
There’s no dearth of posts on social media platforms claiming to have found the cure for the coronavirus. Here’s one in Hindi that makes not one, but several claims about COVID-19 cures and prevention.
Three common myths about polio vaccine
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Myths about the polio vaccine continue to reappear. This World Polio Day, we debunk the most common myths about the polio vaccine.
Drinking tea is not a cure for Covid-19
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
Claims about tea being a cure for COVID-19 have been doing the rounds since the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak. While the popular drink may be beneficial for health in general, it certainly doesn’t have any curative powers against the deadly virus.
02
Oct
Oct
No, China does not hold the patent for drug remdesivir
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A WhatsApp message claims that the patent for the drug remdesivir is held by China and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates will profit from this drug. The claims are false.
21
Sep
Sep
Myths about polycystic ovary syndrome and why they’re misleading
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
Since polycystic ovary syndrome is not well understood, there is widespread misinformation about this condition. Misinformation can impact its diagnosis leading to assumptions and generalisations in the absence of facts.
10
Sep
Sep
No, putting basil leaves, camphor inside the mask will not purify the air nor it will protect you from Covid-19
- Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan / 4 years
- 0
- 4 min read
Videos making false and misleading claims about masks are getting wide popularity in India. While one video claims that wearing masks is dangerous, others promote ‘herbal masks’ to purify the air we breathe in. All these claims are false.
03
Sep
Sep
A video claiming coronavirus is like any other flu is false
- Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan / 4 years
- 0
- 5 min read
A video is getting viral on Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube claiming that COVID-19 is the biggest scandal in the history of mankind. But all the claims are false.
21
Aug
Aug
Labelling garlic as a cure for cancer is false, misleading
- Abeen Bilal / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
A Facebook page is promoting the use of garlic to kill brain cancer cells but the claim is false and misleading as there is no scientific evidence to prove that garlic can cure cancer.
14
Aug
Aug
Battling vaccine misinformation: MMR vaccine has no association with Autism
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
There’s scientific evidence to prove that the MMR vaccine doesn’t cause Autism and there is no association between the two.
06
Aug
Aug
No, Vicks VapoRub will not help in reducing belly fat
- Parul Goswami / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
There is no scientific evidence to prove that Vicks VapoRub, a topical ointment used for nasal congestion and cough can melt away belly fat and eventually lead to weight loss. The claim is false.
30
Jul
Jul
Beware of apps that claim to check blood oxygen level, hackers are out to steal your data
- Jisha Krishnan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A viral WhatsApp message in India is asking people to click on a link to download a free app that monitors blood oxygen levels using one’s phone camera. The pandemic is seeing a surge in fake apps and cyber fraud.
27
Jul
Jul
Unproven COVID-19 treatment list circulates on Whatsapp
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A photo of a list of treatments claiming to have been recommended to “patients recovering from the hospital” along with a listing of symptoms is circulating on WhatsApp in India. The claims are false with unsubstantiated remedies.
24
Jul
Jul
Home-made blend of onion, lemon and honey will not prevent a heart attack
- Sista Mukherjee / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
A video viewed millions of times claims that heart attacks can be prevented by drinking onion juice mixed with lemon and honey. The claim is misleading.
23
Jul
Jul
No, homemade concoctions may not help in passing kidney stones
- Abeen Bilal / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
A Youtube video claims that a concoction of onion, cumin, sugar crystals and lemon will help pass kidney stones. But there is no evidence to prove that this mix of ingredients can cure or help in passing kidney stones. The claim is false.
17
Jul
Jul
This video of undignified burial of dead bodies is from Indian state of Karnataka and not Russia
- Sahil Bali / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
A video that has been watched hundreds of times on youtube claims that the video highlights how Russia is secretly burying dead bodies. However, the video is from Ballari, a district in the south Indian state of Karnataka which shows the undignified burial of dead bodies.
10
Jul
Jul
No, tying a sack of spices and camphor will not protect you from Covid-19
- First Check Team / 4 years
- 0
- 3 min read
There is no scientific evidence that tying a homemade pouch full of different spices can protect people from Covid-19. The video has been viewed thousands of times but the claim is false and is misleading people.
06
Jul
Jul
Analysing social media response to COVID-19 misinformation
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 5 min read
Social media platforms are under constant pressure to regulate misinformation. We analysed how the three most popular social media platforms are tackling fake news related to the pandemic.
22
Jun
Jun
No, washing hands with lemon will not protect you from Covid-19
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 4 min read
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 10 fake claims citing the medicinal properties of lemon or drinking hot lemon juice or mixing lemon with soda, tea have been doing rounds. A new claim saying that washing hands with lemon juice can protect from coronavirus is unsubstantiated. We found that there is no study or data to back up this claim.
12
Jun
Jun
100 fake COVID-19 WhatsApp forwards that we almost believed
- Deepika Khurana / 4 years
- 0
- 48 min read
The spread of dubious claims and false information during the coronavirus outbreak has been rapid on the popular messaging platform – WhatsApp. Here, with the help of our team of doctors and fact-checkers, we debunk the hundred most widely circulated and harmful content and claims related to COVID-19.
05
Jun
Jun
Trends in Covid-19 misinformation in India
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 4 min read
Amid an unprecedented global health crisis, health journalists faced a double whammy – one to report effectively on the pandemic and the other to fight the tide of misinformation which spread faster than the virus itself. Here is an analysis of how fake news hit India at various stages during Covid-19.
05
Jun
Jun
Having had measles before does not protect you from COVID-19
- Varadarajan Ananthakrishnan / 4 years
- 0
- 2 min read
A video in the Tamil language claims that if someone has had measles infection in his lifetime, he will never be infected with the novel coronavirus. The claim is false.
05
Jun
Jun
Why a lot of Covid-19 infographics are wrong?
- Nabeela Khan / 4 years
- 0
- 5 min read
There is a lot of data visualisation about COVID-19 which can be misleading. We identified five common mistakes in data visualisation and how one can spot them.
05
Jun
Jun
10 Twitter posts on Covid-19 that mislead the world
- Abeen Bilal / 4 years
- 0
- 7 min read
We’ve been looking at some of the most widely circulated posts on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter since the start of the pandemic. This week, we have compiled and debunked the 10 claims that are currently circulating.