Truth: Mpox is a disease caused by the monkey virus
Recently, several misleading posts on Facebook have falsely claimed that mpox, the disease caused by the monkeypox virus, is actually a side effect of the Covid-19 vaccines. This is entirely untrue.
According to the NHS, mpox typically presents with blisters that may resemble chickenpox, but it is solely caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. It has no connection whatsoever to Covid-19 vaccines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared a significant rise in mpox cases across several African nations as a public health emergency of international concern. During a previous outbreak in 2022, Full Fact published several articles about mpox to address misinformation.
Unfortunately, false information can spread rapidly on social media, potentially leading to harmful health decisions. Here are some of the inaccurate claims circulating:
One post shared a sequence of screenshots and links about mpox and Covid vaccination, falsely asserting that authorities were “lying to cover up the damage they’ve caused.”
Another post misleadingly showed two screenshots of a blistered hand, wrongly attributing the image to shingles in one case and mpox in another. The post claimed, without evidence, that shingles is a known side effect of Covid vaccines. (It’s worth noting that Covax was a global initiative to develop and distribute Covid vaccines.)
Some posts have resurrected an old article from the Exposé website, which Full Fact has debunked numerous times. The 2022 article falsely claimed in its headline: “Monkeypox is a coverup for damage done to the immune system by COVID vaccination resulting in Shingles, Autoimmune Blistering Disease & Herpes Infection.”
Why These Claims Are False
To clarify, mpox is a disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, part of the orthopoxvirus family, which also includes cowpox and smallpox. Mpox is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or animal, and it is more commonly found in small rodents than in monkeys.
There is no basis to the claim that the Covid-19 vaccine contains the monkeypox virus, making it impossible for someone to contract mpox from the vaccine.
While mpox can sometimes be mistaken for chickenpox or shingles due to similar blistering, these are distinct diseases caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a completely different pathogen.
It’s crucial to rely on accurate information, especially regarding health. Spreading misinformation about diseases like mpox and the Covid-19 vaccine can lead to unnecessary fear and potentially dangerous decisions.
