FACT CHECK: Nope, Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest wasn’t caused by the COVID-19 vaccine – FingerLakes1.com
A manipulated image of a CNN headline is circulating on social media, claiming that a cardiac arrest suffered by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was caused by the fourth booster vaccine. The image purports to be a screenshot of a CNN headline published on January 11th, which reads “Doctor of Damar Hamlin confirms Cardiac Arrest was due to the 4th Booster Vaccine.” However, CNN has confirmed that this headline is fabricated and that the screenshot has been manipulated.
The real headline that CNN published on January 11th at 1:37 p.m. Eastern time, written by the same reporters and featuring the same photo of Hamlin, reads: “Damar Hamlin discharged after spending more than a week hospitalized due to a cardiac arrest.”
This manipulation of the image is spreading online amid unsupported claims that Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was caused by a COVID-19 vaccine. A search of CNN’s website confirms that the screenshot was manipulated and the headline in question is fabricated. This is not the first time misinformation has been spread about Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, a tweet from a dubious account was previously shared claiming that the Bills player received a COVID-19 booster on December 26th, days before he collapsed during a January 2nd game in Cincinnati. That account is no longer active and there is no evidence that the individual was a doctor for Hamlin.
The NFL player’s tragic collapse has spurred misinformation and given renewed energy to a faulty narrative that the vaccines are causing a dramatic rise in cardiac issues among young athletes. Cardiologists have told the AP there have been instances of athletes experiencing sudden cardiac death and cardiac arrest long before the COVID-19 pandemic and that they have not observed the dramatic increase alleged on social media.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]
