US CDC "Vaccine Shedding Phenomenon Unrelated to Currently Approved Vaccines"
AP News "Vaccine-Related Conspiracy Theories Spread via SNS"
Recently, many posts have been uploaded on an online community complaining about the shedding phenomenon, where people experience unusual symptoms near those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. / Photo by Yonhap News (left), Online Community Capture (right)
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Unverified claims that unusual symptoms such as itching or headaches occur when near COVID-19 vaccine recipients are spreading among some unvaccinated individuals.
Recently, numerous posts have been shared in some online communities, such as the 'COVID Vaccine Side Effect Victims Group,' reporting experiences of COVID-19 vaccine shedding.
The shedding phenomenon is a claim made by some unvaccinated people that COVID-19 vaccine recipients release viral particles that cause unusual symptoms like itching, inflammation, headaches, or menstrual irregularities in unvaccinated individuals. Additionally, there are claims that turning on Bluetooth near vaccine recipients connects an unknown number of mysterious devices equal to the number of vaccinated people nearby.
An unvaccinated individual, A, posted on an online community on the 30th of last month, stating, "I had a long chat over coffee with a student who received the Moderna vaccine, and my face felt tingling. When the student spoke in my direction, it felt like an electromagnetic wave wavelength, as if turning on a TV."
Another unvaccinated person, B, complained, "When I am near people vaccinated with Pfizer, I feel extreme itching," adding, "I can predict that a Pfizer vaccine recipient is nearby just by that unique sensation."
Within this community, posts have spread suggesting that vaccine recipients should take deworming drugs like ivermectin, pine needle tea, or vitamins C and D to block toxin release, or that after vaccination, one should visit a Korean medicine clinic to have blood drawn to remove toxins.
Regarding this, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on its website, "Shedding can occur with vaccines that use live organisms, but the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States do not fall into this category."
Concerning claims about changes in menstrual cycles, the CDC also dismissed them, stating, "Being close to someone who has received the COVID-19 vaccine cannot affect your menstrual cycle. However, many factors such as stress, schedule changes, sleep problems, diet, or exercise changes can influence menstrual cycles."
The four vaccines currently administered in South Korea also do not use live organisms. AstraZeneca (AZ) and Janssen are viral vector vaccines that use modified viruses as carriers, while Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines that deliver substances inducing antibody production encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles into the body.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press (AP) reported in April that conspiracy theories claiming that simply being physically close to vaccinated individuals can cause menstrual changes or miscarriages are spreading on social media among COVID-19 vaccine skeptics. However, the AP emphasized that it is biologically impossible for vaccinated individuals to transmit the vaccine to unvaccinated people.
On the 5th, AP also reported that doctors are struggling with patients who receive misinformation about vaccines through platforms like Facebook.
According to the report, family medicine physician Dr. Karl Lampert said, "(The conspiracy theories spreading online) are virtually impossible," adding, "Recently, I have received numerous inquiries from patients worried about testicular damage. It is absurd. (Upon investigation) it started from a false tweet by singer Nicki Minaj claiming the vaccine causes erectile dysfunction."
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