A few conspiracies have been floating around about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines available now, with some more outlandish ones even claiming the vaccine is rewriting DNA and that within two years everyone who has taken it will be altered, even though that technology is not currently available.
A more commonplace and less outlandish piece of misinformation is that the vaccine causes complications with fertility for women.
The vaccine causes no problems with fertility, and medical professionals in fact advise pregnant people to become vaccinated as soon as possible, as pregnant people are at higher risk for severe disease from the virus if they catch it unvaccinated.
And on top of that, some things that are likely present in an anti-vaxxer's daily life can actually cause complications with fertility, such as Taco Bell.
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The Taco Bell website contains a warning which reads:
"Certain foods and beverages sold or served here can expose you to chemicals including acrylamide in many fried or baked foods, and mercury in fish, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm."
Patrons are exposed to this warning any time they make a purchase via the app.
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In fact, according to the CDC, there is no evidence that ANY vaccine causes problems with fertility in any way.
Many users alluded to getting both the vaccine AND Taco Bell, and having no troubles with getting pregnant or having kids.
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A California law that requires companies to disclose materials that are known carcinogens (objects that can cause cancer) is responsible for the food warning.
Taco Bell fries most of its food, causing the chemical compound acrylamide to form in the food. Acrylamide forms from sugars and an amino acid that are naturally present in food--and yet, is still harmful for human health.
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The existence of acrylamide itself is a strong enough argument against anti-vaccine conspiracy: if something found naturally in food is detrimental to health, wouldn't human-made substances do their best to eliminate that risk?
Then again, it's a lot easier to just order some Taco Bell than argue with an anti-vaxxer.
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