Anti-vaxxer tried sticking key to neck, arguing jab made her magnetic
- A nurse made a failed attempt at an Ohio hearing to show that a COVID-19 vaccine made her magnetic.
- Inspired by a conspiracy theorist, she tried to make a key and a bobby pin stick to her neck.
- They fell off. The legislation she was supporting is still being considered.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
A woman testifying at an Ohio Statehouse hearing made a failed attempt to get a key and a bobby pin to stick to her neck Tuesday, frustrating her attempt to prove a conspiracy theory that COVID-19 vaccines make people magnetic.
The woman, who was identified as a nurse by the local news site the Ohio Capital Journal, was speaking at a hearing to promote the GOP-sponsored House Bill 248, which addresses civil liberties around vaccines.
Taking the stand, the unnamed nurse tried a practical demonstration of the conspiracy theory. Video of the testimony was posted by the Ohio Capital Journal reporter Tyler Buchanan:
—Tyler Buchanan (@Tylerjoelb) June 9, 2021
The nurse said she took her cues from an earlier speaker, the conspiracist doctor Sherri Tenpenny, who wrote “Saying No to Vaccines” and had been invited to the hearing by Republicans.
Tenpenny had falsely said the COVID-19 vaccine could make people “magnetized,” claiming that people could “put spoons and forks all over” and they would stick because of magnetic particles in the vaccines.
“You were talking about Dr. Tenpenny’s testimony about magnetic vaccine crystals?” the nurse said. “So this is what I found out.”
“So I have a key and a bobby pin here,” she continued, proceeding to put a key on her chest, where it stayed. “Explain to me why the key sticks to me.”
She then put the key on her neck, where it fell off. Trying the same thing with a bobby pin, it fell off.
Nonetheless, she said: “It sticks to my neck too. Yeah so if somebody can explain this, it would be great. Any questions?”
The full hearing included a jumble of conspiracy theories involving 5G towers and other false vaccine claims, the Journal reported.
House Bill 248 has been characterized by its sponsor, Republican state Rep. Jennifer Gross, as a “freedom bill” rather than a “scientific” one, the Journal reported.
It would prohibit mandatory vaccinations, stop businesses from denying service to unvaccinated people, and outlaw any obligation to disclose whether you have been vaccinated, among other measures.
It is currently in the committee stage.
* Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Bill 248 had passed the Ohio House of Representatives. As of June 10, 2021, it was still being considered.
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