We came across this post on Facebook:
The author of the post shared what appears to be a graphic with a mask-wearing individual getting an injection. Next to the individual, we see a rather worrying text which states: “You may die, which is normal.” We also see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s logo at the bottom left of the graphic, and the URL cdc.gov/coronavirus. The link leads to the CDC’s webpage about COVID-19.
The author of the text then writes in the caption: “Don’t be afraid to take your booster shots. All side effects are normal.”
While the caption sounds almost well-meaning in encouraging people to get vaccinated, putting it into the context of what’s implied in the graphic reveals that it was written as a snide remark, possibly in response to how the authorities have been encouraging people to take their booster shots.
Where did this graphic even come from?
When we did a reverse image search, we were led to a Twitter thread by the CDC published on 7 April. In the thread, the CDC posted a series of graphics about viral vector vaccines. Viral vector vaccines include the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine, which is authorised for emergency use in the United States.
A few tweets down, we see the graphic of the mask-wearing individual getting an injection.
However, the text on it states something a little less extreme and a lot more in line with the advisories published for vaccines so far – “You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection.”
Interestingly enough, we also came across a fact check by PolitiFact which sees the same graphic’s text being edited, this time, to reflect that refusing to take the vaccine “is a form of racism since it harms people of color”.
PolitiFact also found a template for the image (sans the text), and even created one to prove how easily it is that such graphics can be created, even without any Photoshop skills.
Therefore, it is false that the CDC posted a graphic which says that it is “normal” that individuals may die from taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
