FACT CHECK: Are Cows Being Given MRNA Vaccines?
A post shared on Instagram purports cows are receiving an mRNA vaccine, which would pass to humans via dairy products including milk and cheese.
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Verdict: False
The claim is false. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated no such technology is licensed for livestock.
Fact Check:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee voted Oct. 20 to add the COVID-19 vaccine to its recommended immunization schedule, NBC News reported. The move would officially add the vaccine to its schedule for both children and adults, the outlet reported.
The Instagram post appears to show a screengrab of an article claiming cows would receive an mRNA vaccine and would be transferred to humans via dairy products such as milk and cheese. The cows who received the vaccine experienced “instant death,” the post purports.
The claim is false. There are no credible news reports suggesting livestock are receiving an mRNA vaccine and would be passed to humans via food products. Neither the USDA nor the FDA has shared press releases or statements via their verified social media pages commenting on the claim. Likewise, the CDC has not issued a statement responding to the claim.
“We cannot speak to vaccines licensed or used in Australia, where this article originated. We don’t currently have a cattle product based on mRNA technology licensed for use in the United States,” USDA spokesperson Lyndsay Cole told Check Your Fact via email.
Cole added that all vaccines licensed in the country “has been thoroughly demonstrated as pure, safe, potent, and effective, regardless of whether it is a biotech-based vaccine or not,” and that mRNA vaccines would “need to meet that same standard.”
The claim stems from an Oct. 3 article published by the website Truth11, which alleges mRNA vaccination is now mandatory for Australian dairy farmers. Other iterations of the same article have also been shared to the sites, Tap News Wire and Before It’s News. The claims about Australian farmers giving their cattle the mRNA vaccine have also been debunked by AFP. (RELATED: Did In-N-Out Burger Print This Message About ‘The Vaccinated’ On A Cup?)
Check Your Fact has contacted FDA and CDC spokespersons as well as farming and agricultural experts for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
