There have been videos online of individuals sticking spoons on their faces or on different parts of their bodies claiming that they are magnetic after their COVID dose. Although less famous than the previous myth we debunked last week (check the last post here), this one is just as pernicious and widespread.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, an osteopathic physician who is an anti-vaccination activist, claims that the vaccines are actively magnetizing human bodies [1]. Her colleague, Ms. Joanna Overholt, then gained a bad reputation after unsuccessfully trying to prove their magnetism claim, by failing to stick a key to her neck [2].
Moreover, Dr. Jane Ruby, a self-proclaimed “new right political pundit” stated in a video posted on the conservative Stew Peters Show podcast, that magnetism was intentionally added to vaccines to force mRNA through the entire body. She called this phenomenon “magnetofection”.
The Truth
None of the established and approved COVID-19 vaccines can lead to human magnetism. Articles written by Drs. Ethan Siegel and Rhett Allain explain the science behind magnetism – why human magnetism is so difficult to achieve and how some people are able to stick spoons to their bodies [3,4].
Approximately 95% of the human body is composed of water, lipids, and proteins, but none of these are magnetics on their own [3]. The easiest way to prove this is to hold a magnet up to a glass of water (which corresponds to 60-65% of the body) and there will be no reaction.
The best way to make a human body magnetic would probably be the addition of a magnetizable material to the body. Nickel, cobalt, iron, or rare earth alloys are typical elements that could lead to a degree of magnetism. However, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention specifically states “All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, lithium, rare earth alloys, or any manufactured products such as microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes, or nanowire semiconductors [5].” If you want to know more about the ingredients of the different COVID-19 vaccines, check out the post here.
However, there have been many recent viral videos where people stick different objects directly on their skin. This is perfectly normal and much more mundane than magnetism. Any object – metal or not- can stick to the human skin just because the sweat makes us slightly sticky [4]. You will find that after exercising objects will stick easily, but if you put some talcum powder the so-called “magnetism” will spontaneously disappear.
All of this available information suggests that the magnetism claim is absurd. The sad reality is that although we can hopefully end the COVID-19 pandemic, the current misinformation pandemic will remain. Therefore, it is truly critical that whenever outlandish claims are made, we analyze them to ensure that there is substantial evidence to support these claims and not just hearsay. We should be critical and cautious of random claims made by people over the internet, and trust and rely only on information received from credible and reliable sources.
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Written by: Renard
Edited by: María and Natasha
BioDecoded is a volunteer group committed to sharing accurate scientific information. We cannot offer any specific health advice. If you have any doubts about getting vaccinated due to previous health conditions, please speak with your healthcare professional or family physician. Your doctor can revise your medical history and advise you on the best path to follow. If you have any questions about this topic, please comment or send them to our email.
References:
A prominent anti-vax doctor, who falsely claimed the COVID-19 vaccine could make people magnetic, had her medical license renewed, report says. Business Insider (2021). Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/top-anti-vax-doctor-sherri-tenpenny-has-license-renewed-ohio-report-2021-9?r=US&IR=T (Accessed: 25th October 2021)
Fact check: COVID-19 vaccines aren’t magnetic. Usatoday.com (2021). Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/06/21/fact-check-covid-19-vaccines-arent-magnetic/7698556002/ (Accessed: 25th October 2021)
Siegel, E. The Unfiltered Truth Behind Human Magnetism, Vaccines, And COVID-19. Forbes (2021). Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/06/23/the-unfiltered-truth-behind-human-magnetism-vaccines-and-covid-19/?sh=1aebaa2c540c (Accessed: 25th October 2021)
Nast, C. No, Covid-19 Vaccines Won’t Make You Magnetic. Here’s Why. Wired (2021). Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/no-covid-19-vaccines-wont-make-you-magnetic-heres-why/ (Accessed: 25th October 2021)
Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC. Cdc.gov (2021). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html#Appendix-C (Accessed: 25th October 2021)https://biodecoded.net/myth-i-microchips-in-covid-19-vaccines/
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