Do face masks prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Yes.

Yes, face masks are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The virus that causes COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2, primarily spreads through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. Face masks can help to prevent the spread of these respiratory droplets and reduce the risk of transmission.

Multiple studies have shown that wearing a face mask can significantly reduce the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols, which can carry the virus that causes COVID-19. In addition, face masks can help to protect the wearer by reducing the amount of virus that is inhaled.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both recommend the use of face masks as a key strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19. It is important to wear a mask correctly, covering both the nose and mouth, and to use other preventative measures, such as social distancing and hand hygiene, to reduce the risk of transmission.

Resources for: Do face mask prevent the spread of COVID-19?

From Preprints: Face Masks Against COVID-19: An Evidence Review

From Science Based Medicine: Do face masks decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission?

From Science Based Medicine: Do Masks Work?

From Neurologica: Face Mask War

From Forbes: 3 New Scientific Studies Say, ‘Mask Up!’ COVID-19 Can Spread In Surprising Ways We Didn’t Realize

Please note:

If you have any actual scientific evidence that they do not work and that evidence stacks up to scrutiny, please send it and it will be linked above.

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Is the HPV vaccine effective?

Yes.

Resources for: Is the HPV vaccine effective?

From Skeptical Raptor: HPV vaccine effectiveness – 14 year follow-up of women, all good news

From the CDC: HPV Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness

From Pediatrics: 4-Valent Human Papillomavirus (4vHPV) Vaccine in Preadolescents and Adolescents After 10 Years.

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If you have any peer reviewed scientific publications in a high quality journal that show that the HPV vaccine does not work, please send them to us and they will be added above.

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How to read a vaccine packaging insert?

“The anti-vaccine movement presents a beautiful case-study in inconsistent reasoning and logical contradictions. One of the most entertaining and important of these contradictions comes from their treatment of vaccine package inserts. If you have ever spent any time debating anti-vaccers, then you have, no doubt, encountered these inserts. They list adverse events that were reported during vaccine testing, and anti-vaccers are adamant that these inserts provide clear evidence that vaccines are, in fact, dangerous. As I will explain, however, this argument is inconsistent with other core anti-vaccine arguments, and the presence of adverse events in the package inserts actually provides strong evidence against the vast global conspiracy that anti-vaccers envision (and, indeed, that their position requires).” Source

Resources for how to read a vaccine packaging insert?

From The Logic of Science: The vaccine package insert paradox

From Christopher Johnson, MD: Vaccine skeptics’ obsession with drug package inserts

From Skeptical Raptor: Argument by Vaccine Package Inserts – they’re not infallible

From Vaxopedia: How to Read a Package Insert for a Vaccine

From Vaxopedia: Show Me the Vaccine Insert!

From Harpocrates Speaks: Package Inserts – Understanding What They Do (and Don’t) Say

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Does vaccination cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

No. There is a lower incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in children that have been vaccinated.

There is currently no scientific evidence to support a link between vaccination and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is a tragic and unexplained phenomenon that can occur in otherwise healthy infants, typically during their first year of life. While the exact causes of SIDS are still not fully understood, research has identified several risk factors, including premature birth, low birth weight, and exposure to tobacco smoke.

Vaccines have been extensively studied and tested for safety before being approved for use. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the possible link between vaccination and SIDS, and the overwhelming majority of evidence suggests that vaccines do not increase the risk of SIDS.

In fact, some studies have found that vaccination may actually decrease the risk of SIDS by preventing infections that can lead to serious complications, including sudden death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations recommend routine vaccination for infants and young children as an important measure to protect against a range of infectious diseases and prevent serious health complications.

Resources for: Does vaccination cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

From the CDC: Vaccines and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

From Wikipedia: Vaccines and SIDS

From Vaccine: Do immunisations reduce the risk for SIDS? A meta-analysis

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Is oleandrin (oleander leaves) a cure for COVID-19?

No, its not.

No, oleandrin, a compound found in oleander leaves, is not a cure for COVID-19. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that oleandrin or any other compound derived from oleander leaves can cure or prevent COVID-19.

In fact, oleander leaves are highly toxic and can cause serious health problems, including cardiac arrest, if ingested. There have been reports of people becoming ill or dying after consuming oleander leaves or products made from them.

It is important to rely on credible sources of information, such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when seeking information about COVID-19 treatments and preventions. At present, there is no cure for COVID-19, but vaccines and some medications have been shown to be effective in preventing and treating the disease.

Resources for: Is oleandrin (oleander leaves) a cure for COVID-19?

From MarketWatch: CNN’s Anderson Cooper tears into Mike Lindell over claim that oleandrin is a coronavirus cure

From SkepticalRaptor: Oleander extract for COVID-19 – another moronic and useless treatment

From PBS: Oleandrin is a deadly plant poison, not a COVID-19 cure

From the Conversation: Oleandrin is a deadly plant poison, not aCOVID-19 cure

From AXIOS: Trump eyes new unproven coronavirus “cure”

Press Release: American Botanical Council Warns Consumers about High Toxicity of Oleander

From the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine: A fatal case of self-poisoning through the ingestion of oleander leaves

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If you have any good peer reviewed data that oleandrin (oleander leaves) are a cure for COVID-19 in humans, please send it to us and if it stacks up, it will be listed above.

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Is ‘death’ a common side affect of vaccination?

No, not even close.

No, death is not a common side effect of vaccination. While all medications and vaccines carry some degree of risk, including the possibility of serious adverse events, the vast majority of people who receive vaccines experience only mild side effects, such as soreness at the injection site, fever, or fatigue.

Serious adverse events, such as severe allergic reactions, are very rare and occur in only a small fraction of vaccinated individuals. In rare cases, vaccines have been associated with serious adverse events, including death, but the risk is extremely low and the benefits of vaccination generally far outweigh the risks.

Before vaccines are approved for use, they undergo extensive testing and clinical trials to ensure their safety and effectiveness. After approval, they continue to be monitored for safety through a variety of surveillance systems.

Resources for: Is ‘death’ a common side affect of vaccination?

From Skeptical Raptor: Post vaccination mortality – another anti-vaccine myth without merit

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Was the moon landing faked?

Of course it wasn’t.

No, the moon landing was not faked. The Apollo moon landing missions, which took place between 1969 and 1972, were a series of manned missions to the moon carried out by NASA, the United States space agency. The missions involved sending astronauts to the moon, collecting samples of the lunar surface, and conducting experiments.

There is a small but vocal group of people who believe that the moon landing was faked, often citing supposed inconsistencies or anomalies in the photographic and video evidence. However, these claims have been thoroughly debunked by scientific analysis and by the testimony of the astronauts who participated in the missions.

In addition, many independent organizations, including the Soviet Union, which was a rival to the United States in the space race, verified the authenticity of the moon landing through their own tracking and monitoring of the missions.

The overwhelming evidence supports the conclusion that the moon landing was a real achievement of human space exploration, and remains one of the most significant accomplishments of the 20th century

Resources on Was the moon landing faked?

From the History Channel: The Wildest Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories, Debunked

From Space.com: Moon-Landing Hoax Still Lives On, 50 Years After Apollo 11. But Why?

From RMG: Moon landing conspiracy theories, debunked

From Wikipedia: Moon landing conspiracy theories

From the News & Observer: 50 years after Apollo 11, moon landing hoaxes still thrive online

From National Geographic: Apollo 11 Hoax Photos: 8 Moon-Landing Myths Busted

From Live Science: Top Moon Conspiracy Theories and Why They Are Stupid

From Popular Mechanics: Why Faking the Moon Landing Was Impossible

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Does Hydroxychloroquine cure COVID-19?

No, it doesn’t.

There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment for COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug that has been used for many years to treat a range of conditions, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It has been suggested that hydroxychloroquine may be effective in treating COVID-19, but the evidence to support this claim is limited and conflicting.

Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19, but the results have been mixed. Some studies have suggested that hydroxychloroquine may have some benefits in treating COVID-19, while others have found no significant effect. In addition, some studies have raised concerns about potential risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine, such as heart rhythm disturbances.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other health authorities have cautioned against the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19, except in the context of clinical trials or under strict medical supervision.

Resources on Does Hydroxychloroquine cure COVID-19?

From Science Based Medicine: Hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19: Evidence can’t seem to kill it

From Skeptical Raptor: Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for coronavirus – UPDATED with new studies

From Retraction Watch: French hydroxychloroquine study has “major methodological shortcomings” and is “fully irresponsible,” says review, but is not being retracted

From the University of Basel: Basel study: Why lopinavir and hydroxychloroquine do not work on Covid-19

“Hydroxychloroquine in patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and meta-analysis.”

From the FDA: FDA cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems

From Clinical Microbiology and Infection: Effect of hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin on the mortality of COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Is overpronation bad?*

Yes, it is. Despite the rhetoric and propaganda, it is a problem for runners but not a big problem.

Overpronation is a foot condition where the foot rolls inward excessively while walking or running, leading to an excessive flattening of the arch. Pronation is a natural movement of the foot that occurs when the foot strikes the ground and the arch flattens to absorb shock. However, excessive pronation can put stress on the foot and lower leg, and may cause pain or injury over time.

Overpronation can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic factors, certain medical conditions, or wearing shoes that don’t provide enough support or stability. People who have flat feet or low arches may also be more prone to overpronation.

Symptoms of overpronation may include foot or ankle pain, knee pain, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis, which is a painful condition that affects the heel and arch of the foot.

Treatment for overpronation may include wearing shoes with good arch support and stability, using orthotic inserts to provide additional support, and performing exercises to strengthen the muscles of the foot and lower leg. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct structural problems in the foot. A podiatrist or other healthcare provider can provide advice and treatment options for overpronation.

Resources on is overpronation bad?

From Run Research Junkie: http://www.runresearchjunkie.com/the-nonsensical-understanding-of-overpronation/

From Its a Foot Captain: https://www.itsafootcaptain.com/pronation-mythology/

From PodiatryCPD: https://podiatrycpd.com.au/2020/06/15/whats-the-deal-with-overpronation/

From More to Life than Running: http://www.moretolifethanrunning.com/2020/08/is-overpronation-a-death-sentence-for-runners/

*This topic is not exactly mainstream skepticism, but sorry about that. I am a runner and this is an issue in the running and sports medicine communities.

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What happened to Kelly Victory’s video on YouTube?

YouTube removed it as it violated their policy on COVID-19 misinformation.

Resources on Kelly Victory’s video on YouTube:

From QuackWatch: A Skeptical Look at Kelly Victory, M.D.

From Respectful Insolence: Dr. Kelly Victory: Another despicable physician spreading disinformation about COVID-19

From LeadStories: Fact Check: Dr. Kelly Victory’s ‘COVID Facts’ Video Includes Many Claims That Are NOT Facts

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