Most Americans Misled by Covid Falsehoods

How many Americans have been snookered by Covid misinformation? Turns out, the majority of Americans have, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

The KFF survey presented a representative sample of the public with seven Covid-19 falsehoods. Respondents were asked 1) whether they had heard of the falsehood and believed it to be true, or 2) whether they had heard of the falsehood and did not know if it was true. Here are the seven falsehoods...

1. The government is exaggerating the number of Covid-19 deaths
2. Pregnant women should not get the Covid-19 vaccine
3. Deaths due to the Covid-19 vaccine are being intentionally hidden by the government
4. The Covid-19 vaccines have been shown to cause infertility
5. Ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for Covid-19
6. You can get Covid-19 from the vaccine
7. The Covid-19 vaccines contain a microchip
8. The Covid-19 vaccines can change your DNA

All of these statements are false. But the 78 percent majority of Americans have heard of one or more of these falsehoods and believe it to be true or are not sure if it is true. Only 22 percent of the public does not believe any of the falsehoods, according to the KFF survey.

Who is most likely to believe/be unsure about one or more of these falsehoods? The usual suspects—the unvaccinated (95 percent), Republicans (94 percent), people who live in rural areas (86 percent), people without a college degree (83 percent), and people under age 50 (82 percent). 

But other demographic segments don't do much better. In fact, the majority of Americans in every demographic segment believes/is unsure about one or more of the falsehoods, including 71 percent of the vaccinated, 62 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of people who live in urban areas, 68 percent of college graduates, and 73 percent of people aged 50 or older. 

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF Covid-19 Vaccine Monitor: Media and Misinformation