In an interview with known conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, a German doctor claims mpox is actually shingles, which is a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a type of Orthopoxvirus. Shingles, on the other hand, are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox: the herpes zoster virus, a type of Varicellovirus. These viruses can be easily told apart from each other using lab tests.

While both conditions can cause rashes and blisters, how each disease presents is different enough that no one should mistake one for the other. Depending on the type, Mpox might show on the full body or specifically on the hands, feet, and torso. Shingles is the reactivation of the chickenpox virus along a nerve path, so it will only affect a specific region of the body served by that nerve group and usually only one side of the body.

Mpox outbreaks are mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) right now, where only 12.9% of the population received at least one COVID vaccine. If mpox were indeed a side effect of the COVID vaccine, you’d expect to see most of the cases in countries with the highest rates of COVID vaccination, like Portugal (96%), and Cuba (95%), and Vietnam (93%), but in reality, up to 96% of all mpox cases are in the DRC.

In a new video, former presidential candidate RFK Jr. claims that all vaccines have side effects, including conditions like Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, seizures, and encephalitis. He argues that health authorities often downplay or ignore these side effects and that the risks associated with vaccines are not adequately disclosed to the public.

Vaccines are designed to protect us from diseases by training our immune system to recognize and fight off infections without causing the disease itself. When you get a vaccine, it teaches your body to recognize a virus or bacteria so that if exposed to it later, your immune system can respond quickly and prevent you from getting very sick. This process is very effective in preventing serious effects from measles, polio, and the flu.

Even after a vaccine is approved and widely used, it is continuously monitored for safety. Health agencies like the CDC and the FDA have vaccine safety systems in place, like the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), to track any reported side effects. If a potential problem is detected, these agencies investigate it thoroughly. It’s important to remember that reports to VAERS do not necessarily prove a side effect. It may simply be an adverse event, something that happens after a vaccine but may not be caused by a vaccine. These agencies take those reported events and investigate further to determine if there is any potential causation.

It is true that vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, but most are very mild, like a sore arm or a low-grade fever. Serious side effects are extremely rare. For example, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) occur in about 1 in a million doses of vaccines.

Kennedy’s focus on rare side effects makes vaccines seem more dangerous than they really are. He does not emphasize how effective vaccines are in preventing serious diseases, which have far more severe consequences than the rare side effects he describes.

Additionally, he suggests that vaccine risks are not being disclosed, but in reality, the possible side effects are well-documented and shared with the public through vaccine information sheets that doctors give out before vaccination. He even read from the insert that he admits is available in all vaccine packages.

The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks. Vaccines have saved millions of lives and prevented countless cases of serious illness. Thanks to vaccines, diseases that used to be common and deadly, like smallpox and polio, have been eradicated or almost eradicated.

In a new video, Dr. Pierre Kory claims that vaccines are not safe, are based on myths, and have harmed children’s health, so he doesn’t recommend any vaccines from the CDC schedule.

In this video, Kory cites Turtles All the Way Down. This book is edited by Mary Holland, a lawyer at RFK Jr’s Children’s Health Defense, and Zoey O’Toole, co-founder of another anti-vaccine group. Many of its claims are rooted in the broader anti-vaccine movement, which often contradicts scientific consensus.

Dr. Frank Han at Science-Based Medicine does an excellent job of reviewing the book here. He explains some of the biggest problems in the book:

• Misrepresentation of Epidemiology: The book distorts basic epidemiological concepts, leading readers to doubt the validity of studies showing vaccine safety and effectiveness. For example, it falsely implies that epidemiological studies cannot rule out causal links between vaccines and adverse events for individuals. However, The National Academies of Science says, “While epidemiological studies are a powerful tool in understanding the associations between vaccines and adverse events, they cannot entirely rule out the possibility of a causal link at the individual level. This limitation is often misrepresented in public discourse, leading to an exaggerated perception of risk.”
• VAERS Misinterpretation: The book criticizes the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) by focusing on its limitations without acknowledging that VAERS is not meant to function alone. The book suggests that VAERS is “deficient by design,” ignoring the fact that it is part of a larger system of vaccine safety monitoring that includes more robust databases and active surveillance systems.
• Cherry-Picking Data: The book selectively uses data to support its arguments while ignoring the broader context of vaccine safety research. It brings up debunked claims, such as those linking vaccines to autism and SIDS, without acknowledging the extensive evidence refuting these connections.

Using that book as a reference doesn’t help you make informed decisions about vaccination for yourself and your family. It’s even more worrying when a doctor uses a source like this to influence others.