Do you think a COVID-19 vaccine could give you a superpower?
There are countless myths circulating on social media about COVID-19, but some of them gain significantly more traction than others. And while some of them may seem harmless, others are dangerous, like when in 2020 an alarming number of people drank bleach in an attempt to kill the virus after misinformation spread about the toxic substance acting as a viable coronavirus cure.
In addition to harmful misinformation on how to cure coronavirus, countless, sweeping conspiracies concerning the creation of the virus as well as what the vaccine contains continue to flood social media.
But our regional health authority isn't having any of it.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) met a wild claim made by Doctor Sherri Tenpenny — an anti-vaccine advocate based in Cleveland, Ohio — with humour.
Tenpenny proposed that vaccines may cause magnetism but had no evidence to support her theory aside from having seen pictures of people on the Internet with objects stuck to their faces.
"I'm sure you've seen some of the pictures all over the Internet of people who've had these shots and now they're magnetized," she said. "They can put a key on their forehead and it sticks."
Several people responded to the remarks by sharing photos of keys and other household objects stuck to their faces.OHIO: Anti-vaccine *expert* witness claims vaccine causes forks and keys to stick to your forehead and it’s linked to 5G network towers…. Up there trying to out-Tennessee us! 😵💫🥴 pic.twitter.com/GdbQZHrdLv
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) June 8, 2021
This has got ridiculous. I can hardly work at my desk anymore! pic.twitter.com/TTwS4WhFhA
— Rodney Hampton (@RHampton09) June 9, 2021
Vancouver Coastal Health responds with X-Men burn
VCH responded to Tenpenny's inflammatory theory by tweeting that it could confirm that vaccines will "not give you the powers of Wolverine, Storm, or any past/present members of the X-Men."
We can also confirm that vaccines will not give you the powers of Wolverine, Storm, or any past/present members of the X-Men.
— Vancouver Coastal Health (@VCHhealthcare) June 9, 2021
They're great at providing protection from COVID-19 though. https://t.co/aZ4Hm85ztD
👇 https://t.co/BYeWG5gmbU
However, one person mentioned that Wolverine does have the power to produce antibodies against any disease, so the vaccine has a fraction of one of the iconic Marvel character's superpowers.
The regional health authority humbly responded: "We stand corrected!"
One of wolverines powers is that he produces antibodies against any disease, sooo it will give you a small fraction of his powers
— Steve Jolly (@stephanjol) June 9, 2021
In an effort to dispel harmful beliefs about COVID-19, UBC professor Dr. Anny Blakney uses TikTok to provide correct information about everything from vaccines to transmission and beyond.
Check out some of her viral videos and helpful information online.
