Fact-Check: Debunking the Top Myths Around Viral “Vaccine Study”

DETROIT—Henry Ford Health condemns the spread of dangerous disinformation connected to a “documentary” that falsely claims our nationally recognized academic medical center and research institute suppressed a draft of a research study because of its results.

The purposeful twisting of information in the “documentary” poses a direct public threat. We implore anyone who comes across these myths to read the facts below. 

MYTH #1: “The study proves vaccinated children are 2.5x more likely to develop chronic health conditions than unvaccinated children.”

FACT: This draft did not prove anything. The very first internal review revealed serious flaws in the data and methodology, and the paper was abandoned. Anyone who conducts public health research would agree that comparing vastly different sample sizes over different time periods with inconsistent demographic foundations is problematic.

MYTH #2: “The study wasn’t published due to political reasons – or because of its results.”

FACT: The draft wasn’t submitted for publication or shared with the public because the data and analyses were flawed, and it’s irresponsible to share scientifically flawed studies with the public.

MYTH #3: “The study was hidden from the public.”

FACT: Reputable academic medical research institutions like Henry Ford Health subject research papers to stringent, internal, and scientific scrutiny that often points out issues with data, methodology or other flaws. It’s rare that a paper makes it to the scientific journal submission phase, and even rarer that papers get published. This wasn’t hidden; it was simply rejected for scientific lapses.

MYTH #4: “This is the ‘most important vaccine study ever.’”

FACT: Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease physician from Stanford who testified on Capitol Hill, wrote “…this flawed analysis reveals how thoroughly political theater has replaced scientific literacy in our public discourse.” The first internal reviewers determined the paper wasn’t scientifically sound—and it never made it past draft status.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY: mediarelations@hfhs.org