Investigating the Claim: Can COVID-19 Vaccinated Individuals Cause Side Effects in Unvaccinated People?

The claim that COVID-19 vaccinated individuals are causing serious side effects, specifically menstrual abnormalities, in unvaccinated people through 'vaccine shedding' has been circulating in various media outlets. This claim is based on a study titled 'Menstrual Abnormalities Strongly Associated with Proximity to COVID-19 Vaccinated Individuals,' published in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research. However, a thorough investigation of this claim reveals several issues that undermine its credibility.

Firstly, the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research is not a reputable or well-known journal in the scientific community. It is not indexed in major scientific databases like PubMed, and its editorial policies and peer-review processes are not transparent. This raises significant questions about the credibility of the study published in it.

Secondly, the study itself has several methodological flaws. It relies on self-reported data, which can be subject to bias and inaccuracies. The study does not establish a clear causal link between proximity to vaccinated individuals and menstrual abnormalities. Correlation does not imply causation, and the study does not control for other potential factors that could cause menstrual irregularities.

The concept of 'vaccine shedding' as described in the claim is also misleading. Vaccine shedding typically refers to the release of vaccine-strain viruses from a vaccinated individual, which can potentially infect others. However, the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use do not contain live viruses and cannot cause shedding in this manner. The mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells to produce a harmless piece of the 'spike protein,' which the body then builds an immune response against. This process does not involve the production of infectious viruses.

The claim also references a 2015 FDA document titled 'Design and Analysis of Shedding Studies for Virus or Bacteria-Based Gene Therapy and Oncolytic Products.' However, this document does not support the claim as it pertains to gene therapy products that are fundamentally different from the mRNA vaccines used for COVID-19. The document does not provide evidence that mRNA vaccines can cause shedding that affects unvaccinated individuals.

Furthermore, reputable health organizations and scientific studies have not found evidence supporting the claim of vaccine shedding causing side effects in unvaccinated people. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found no significant difference in the incidence of menstrual changes between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (source ). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also states that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, with no evidence of vaccine shedding causing harm to others (source ).

In conclusion, the claim that COVID-19 vaccinated individuals are causing serious side effects in unvaccinated people through 'vaccine shedding' is not supported by scientific evidence. The study cited has significant methodological flaws and is published in a non-reputable journal. Reputable health organizations and scientific studies do not support this claim. Therefore, it is crucial to rely on credible sources and scientific evidence when evaluating such claims.