A banner for COVID-19 vaccines says, “Don’t forget to donate your childrens organs.”
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No, this COVID-19 vaccine banner didn’t really encourage parents to donate their children’s organs
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- This image was altered. The original makes no mention of organ donations.
The words that appear in a photo of a banner advertising COVID-19 vaccines at Mass General Brigham hospital in Boston might seem unnerving, and mispunctuated: "Don’t forget to donate your childrens organs."
But this image has been doctored, and posts sharing it have been flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The original image, which the New England Patriots published on its website on July 31, shows that what the banner actually says is a Spanish translation of the English words that appear on it. "COVID Vaccines Here, NO Appointment Needed," it says. "Vacunas de COVID Aquí, SIN Cita Previa."
As Reuters reported, the banner also appears in this video tweeted by Boston reporter Nick Giovanni on July 29.
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"Mobile #COVID19 vaccination clinic getting set up at #Patriots Training Camp right now," he wrote.
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Our Sources
Facebook post, Nov. 7, 2021
New England Patriots, Mobile vaccination clinics continue at Gillette Stadium events, July 31, 2021
Reuters, Fact Check-Poster advertising COVID-19 vaccines and children organ donations is digitally altered, Nov. 8, 2021
Nick Giovanni tweet, July 29, 2021
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No, this COVID-19 vaccine banner didn’t really encourage parents to donate their children’s organs
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