Retracted Antivax Paper Reappears, Fuelling Vaccine Misinformation

A retracted paper that claimed over 250,000 people were killed by the COVID-19 vaccine has resurfaced, thanks to tech influencer Steve Kirsch. The paper, authored by Mark Skidmore, a professor at Michigan State University, originally appeared in a peer-reviewed journal but was later retracted due to concerns about its validity and methodology. However, Skidmore and Kirsch now claim that the professor has been exonerated and that the paper has been republished with “helpful additions” from Dr. Susan Oliver.

Kirsch’s post on Substack, titled “MSU Professor Mark Skidmore was exonerated by MSU; his landmark paper showing over 250,000 killed by the COVID vaccine is now back in the peer-reviewed literature,” received attention for its misleading title. While the retraction of the original paper was based on concerns about its methodology and the validity of its conclusions, Kirsch’s post misrepresents the situation.

Critics, including science-based medicine (SBM) blogger Orac, have pointed out the flaws in Skidmore’s study. Orac previously wrote a detailed deconstruction of the paper, highlighting its inaccuracies and its promotion of antivaccine propaganda. The retraction of the paper and the subsequent investigation by Michigan State University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) were not attempts to find fault with Skidmore, but rather responses to the concerns raised about the study’s methodology and conclusions.

It is worth noting that the Liberty Counsel, a right-wing group known for its antivaccine views, defended Skidmore during the IRB investigation. They claim that the study highlighted a correlation between the COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 300,000 fatalities, despite the retraction.

This incident underscores the persistence of antivaccine misinformation. Skidmore’s paper, despite being retracted, still has a significant influence, with an Altmetric score that places it in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric. This highlights the challenge of countering misinformation that is widely shared on social media platforms.

In conclusion, the reemergence of a retracted antivax paper, and its subsequent promotion by individuals like Steve Kirsch, perpetuates vaccine misinformation. It is crucial to promote accurate information about vaccines and to critically evaluate scientific studies to ensure that public health decisions are based on reliable evidence.

Sources:
– Original article: No source found
– Science-based medicine (SBM): No source found