[FALSE] Will COVID-19 vaccination cause Vaccine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (VAIDS)?

 

Screenshot of the tweet.

 

The Claim and Our Verdict

• The claim: A tweet published Dec. 5, 2021 claims that COVID-19 vaccination will cause Vaccine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (VAIDS).
• Fact-checking:
  • Professor Poon Lit-man Leo, head of the Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, told HKBU Fact Check that the so-called VAIDS claim is misinformation. “There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines can suppress immune responses. There are studies showing that COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody response wanes after vaccination. Thus, its protective effect against infection might be reduced after a few months of vaccination…But, this is not saying the COVID-19 vaccine can weaken our immune system,” Poon said in the email.
  • Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, chair of Infectious Diseases of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, told HKBU Fact Check: “There is no such entity (VAIDS) found in any reputable scientific journal publications, and I have not seen such cases before.” Concerning the question of whether COVID-19 vaccines will cause immunodeficiency and even AIDS, Yuen says, “There are no such reports in any reputable scientific journals.”
  • Similar claims have also been debunked by Agence France-Presse Fact Check, Associated Press Fact Check, and Reuters Fact Check.
• Our ruling: We rate the claim as FALSE.

News Brief

A tweet published Dec. 5, 2021 claims that COVID-19 vaccination will cause Vaccine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (VAIDS).

As of the issuance of this report, the tweet had been deleted. However, similar claims are still circulating on Twitter and other social media platforms.

As of the issuance of this report, the tweet had been retweeted 21 times, one time with quote, and it had received 25 likes

Fact-checking

HKBU Fact Check sent enquiry emails to professionals with expertise in infectious disease and public health.

Professor Poon Lit-man Leo, head of the Division of Public Health Laboratory Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, told HKBU Fact Check that the so-called VAIDS is misinformation. “There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines can suppress immune responses. There are studies showing that COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody response wanes after vaccination. Thus, its protective effect against infection might be reduced after a few months of vaccination. Multiple studies show that a booster can help to increase this antibody level and prevent infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) mutants, such as VOCs (variants of concerns) Delta and Omicron. Most importantly, it is very clear that COVID-19 vaccines can reduce hospitalization and death rates in COVID-19 patients. There are some medical professional organizations which are debating the sustainability and potential benefit of repeated boosting for every few months. But, this is not saying the COVID-19 vaccine can weaken our immune system,” Poon said in the email.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, chair of Infectious Diseases of Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, told HKBU Fact Check: “There is no such entity (VAIDS) found in any reputable scientific journal publications, and I have not seen such cases before.” Concerning the question of whether COVID-19 vaccines will cause immunodeficiency and even AIDS, Yuen said, “There are no such reports in any reputable scientific journals.”

Similar claims have also been debunked by Agence France-Presse (AFP) Fact Check, Associated Press (AP) Fact Check, and Reuters Fact Check.

This report will be updated with any further advancement of research in this area.