Last Updated on October 30, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that the Spanish Flu was caused due to mass vaccinations imposed on people. We fact-checked and found this claim to be False.
The Claim
In an Instagram video, the narrator while talking about an unnamed medical scientist or author said, “According to her book, there wasn’t really a flu, but mass vaccinations had been imposed on the population causing flu-like symptoms, a host of different illnesses, and massive deaths.”
Fact Check
What is Spanish Flu?
The Spanish flu was a global influenza pandemic that occurred in 1918–1919. It was caused by an H1N1 A influenza virus.
The Spanish flu was notable for its high mortality rate, particularly among young adults. It was also unusual in that it caused a cytokine storm, a severe immune response that can damage the lungs and other organs.
The virus infected about one-third of the world’s population and resulted in an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Unlike typical influenza viruses that primarily affect the very young, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, the Spanish flu had a higher mortality rate among healthy young adults.
The exact cause of the Spanish flu pandemic is unknown. However, it is thought to have originated in birds and then spread to humans. The virus may have mutated to become more deadly during the war when people were crowded together in unsanitary conditions.
Did mass vaccinations cause the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918?
No, mass vaccinations did not cause the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that mass vaccinations caused the Spanish flu pandemic. In fact, there is no evidence that any vaccines were administered on a large scale during the pandemic.
The Spanish flu pandemic was caused by an H1N1 influenza A virus. The first influenza vaccine was not developed until the 1930s. Therefore, it is impossible that mass vaccinations could have caused the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918.
It’s important to note that during the 1918 influenza pandemic, vaccines were not widely available, and the understanding of influenza viruses and vaccine development was much less advanced than it is today. In fact, the concept of seasonal influenza vaccination as we know it today did not exist during that time.
The origins of the Spanish flu are still a subject of research and debate, but the virus subsequently spread globally due to factors such as World War I, large troop movements, and population density in crowded military camps and cities.
The claim that mass vaccinations cause pandemics is a dangerous myth that has been repeatedly debunked by scientists and public health experts. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent infectious diseases, including pandemics, even though misinformation around them persists.
In summary, the Spanish flu pandemic was caused by the natural transmission of an influenza virus and was not linked to mass vaccinations. The development and widespread use of vaccines to prevent influenza-related illnesses and pandemics came about in the decades following the 1918 pandemic.
Myths around vaccines and pandemics are not new. THIP Media has fact-checked claims which stated that pandemics happen every 100 years, the Covid-19 pandemic is a lie, etc.
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