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Ted Cruz faces backlash over debunked COVID-19 vaccine miscarriage claims
Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Lisa McClain have faced criticism for promoting claims that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to an 82% miscarriage rate in women during their first trimester. Cruz shared these figures on X, alleging that Dr. Anthony Fauci and Pfizer were aware of the risk.
Medical researchers and fact-checkers have identified these statistics as a misinterpretation of a 2021 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The original Shimabukuro study reported a miscarriage rate of 12.6%, which is consistent with baseline rates. The 82% figure was reportedly generated by a statistical error that excluded women vaccinated in their third trimester from the denominator, thereby artificially inflating the perceived risk.
The claims have drawn sharp rebukes from medical professionals and political commentators, who describe the promotion of the debunked data as dangerous disinformation.
Entities
Anthony Fauci · Lisa McClain · New England Journal of Medicine · Pfizer · Ted Cruz
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The 82% figure was reached by incorrectly excluding women vaccinated in their third trimester from the statistical denominator. disa.org · www.joemygod.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] COVID-19 vaccines caused an 82% miscarriage rate among women vaccinated in their first trimester. www.joemygod.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The 82% miscarriage statistic is proof of criminal acts by Dr. Anthony Fauci. www.joemygod.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The actual miscarriage rate reported in the 2021 Shimabukuro study was 12.6%. disa.org · www.joemygod.com