Last Updated on August 16, 2021 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A message has gone viral on social media claiming that people can earn $2500 for every unvaccinated people they report to the authorities. We fact-checked and found that the claim is false.
The Claim
“I am so disgusted how covid has been made to make more and more division between all of us … First let us give you money and prizes to get vaccinated now let give you money for reporting someone who has made their own decision not to ???” writes one social media user referring to the website AURS. Most users have found the website disturbing and divisive. Such posts can be seen here, and here. A snapshot is given below.
Fact Check
Is the US Govt. paying $2500 for reporting unvaccinated people?
No. The Govt. of the United States of America has issued no such directives. Any such order is sure to get a lot of national and international media coverage. A simple Google News search shows that no such news about any directive.
Most of the users who shared the news quoted a website called AURS.
What is AURS? Are they paying money to report unvaccinated people?
AURS ( Anonymous Unvaccinated Reporting System ) is a website created by US politician David Alexander Bramante. Bramante is known for his views against lockdown or any other Cocid related restrictions imposed by the US Govt.
In its About Us section, AURS mentions that the website is created as a work of satire. “I created a website called the Anonymous Unvaccinated Reporting System or AURS as a satirical critique,” Bramante wrote on his personal website.
AURS is not paying anyone any money to report unvaccinated people. The viral post was meant to be a work of satire. Most of the users who shared the post failed to understand that the site is meant to be satire and not a serious message.
Is the vaccination mandatory in the United States?
As of the date of filing this report (August 15, 2021), the vaccination is voluntary for US citizens. The Govt. has constantly encouraged people to take the Covid-19 vaccines but the US president has reportedly mentioned in December 2020 that the Covid vaccine will not be made mandatory for citizens.
That said, if required, vaccines can be made mandatory. An article published on the website of John Hopkins discussing whether vaccines can be made mandatory mentioned, “States have the legal and constitutional authority to require that the people who live in that state be vaccinated, or to introduce a vaccine mandate.”
Why is the vaccination required?
The Covid-19 infection caused by the Coronavirus and its various mutated strains has claimed many lives worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the event as a pandemic. Scientists have developed a vaccine at war footing which seems to be the only way of tackling the virus for the moment.
On the question of why human immune systems are not enough against the virus and why vaccination is important, Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Laxman Jessani says, “Everyone does not have a natural immunity to bacteria and viruses. We need antibodies to fight these infections. These antibodies are not formed naturally. Bacteria and viruses are smart bugs and know how to evade natural immunity and they undergo mutation. Vaccine generates antibodies, hence we need to take vaccine which helps in the development of antibodies to fight infection.”
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