The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is conducting an analysis of the impact of digital health misinformation during the COVID–19 pandemic. The Center for Inquiry is doing its part to assist in this vitally important process, offering our response to the HHS’s Request for Information (RFI), expanding upon our own knowledge of widespread misinformation relating to COVID–19 vaccines, as well as the supposed effectiveness of various, scientifically dubious treatments such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.
However, as our comment discusses at length, this type of misinformation relating to science and health care was nothing new to CFI. For years, we have documented – and fought back against – misinformation from homeopathic practitioners, naturopaths, and other snake oil hucksters who ply their trade in pseudoscience at the expense of patients, consumers, and public health in general.
It is up to advocates for science-based medicine, such as CFI, to continue the fight against health misinformation.