There’s a lot of bad information out there in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Most recently, there has been a movement to twist the CDC’s words about deaths by those who received the vaccine to suggest the vaccine is unsafe.
Let’s clear the air: that’s a terrible rumor and simply filled with misinformation. All indications are the vaccine IS safe AND effective.
So where is the rumor coming from? On the CDC’s website, they reported that 1,637 people who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine have died. Seems like a problem, right? That’s what those opposed to the vaccine would have you to believe. But be careful here! The CDC didn’t say the vaccine caused the deaths. In fact, they’re saying the opposite!
What the CDC Actually Said
The CDC reported that, between December 14, 2020 and March 8, 2021 92 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered. Among those who received the vaccine, less than two-tenths of one percent (0.0018%) died, but CDC and FDA physicians have not found any evidence that any of those deaths were caused by the vaccine.
In other words, the people died the way people usually do: other illnesses, accidents, and so forth. While 1,637 may sound like a large number, it’s actually very small when comparing the number of Americans who have received the vaccine to normal death rates. More importantly, zero of the deaths have been attributed to the vaccine. Here is the full statement from the CDC’s website:
Over 92 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through March 8, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 1,637 reports of death (0.0018%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. CDC and FDA physicians review each case report of death as soon as notified and CDC requests medical records to further assess reports. A review of available clinical information including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records revealed no evidence that vaccination contributed to patient deaths. CDC and FDA will continue to investigate reports of adverse events, including deaths, reported to VAERS.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html
A Lesson in Logical Fallacies
Sadly, those who oppose vaccinations have used the CDC’s statement to suggest—contrary to all evidence—that the deaths were caused by the vaccine. Then, they’re using that false narrative to suggest the vaccine is “experimental” and unsafe.
This is a common logical fallacy called “circular reasoning“: using X to prove Y, even though there is no basis for X. Then, arguing that X is likewise true because of Y.
In this case, those opposed to vaccinations are arguing that people who have taken vaccines have died (X), therefore the vaccine caused the deaths (Y). And, by this false assumption, because the vaccines caused the deaths (Y), the vaccine is also unsafe (X).
There is pretty clear faulty logic here, though. The CDC noted that every report of death has been reviewed by both CDC and FDA physicians, that they have reviewed medical records, autopsy, and death certificates, and there is “no evidence that vaccination contributed to patient deaths.”
That being the case, it’s misleading—and simply inaccurate—to argue that the vaccine caused the deaths (X). In fact, by this faulty logic, you could say that carrots are as much to blame for the deaths as are the vaccine. If each of those 1,637 people who died also ate carrots before they died, we could assume that carrots caused the deaths. That’s just silly. And so is assuming the vaccines caused the deaths.
The truth is, people naturally die for all sorts of reasons. On average, 8,000 people die each day in the United States from all causes. If 92 million doses were given to over 80 million Americans over a four month period—22% of the entire U.S. population—it only makes sense that some of them would die. It does not make sense, however, to blame the vaccine.
Truth is, the CDC has reported that the vaccine is safe and effective and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. But there is significant evidence that the vaccines are working and that it is far riskier and dangerous to not get the vaccine than there is to get it.
So, in short, go get vaccinated! If we do this together, we’ll triumph together!