Commonwealth Policy Center

COVID may be one of the most politicized viruses in our lifetime. And as with any political controversy, conspiracy theories follow. There’s room for disagreement on the origins of COVID. But when it comes to the intent of the vaccine and the efficacy of vaccinations, conspiracy theories are gaining ground. Melissa Healy of the LA Times said in a recent column, “Conspiracy theorists need little more than suspicion, some cherry-picked facts and vibrant imaginations to spin tales about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for the scientists working to establish the facts, the path to the truth is much more plodding. Their search will take them through a trove of medical records whose quotidian details will be important guideposts to the time and circumstances of the coronavirus’ birth as a human pathogen.”