FACT CHECK: Does AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine contain magnetic materials?

On May 13, a video surfaced on the internet showing some people who claimed to have received the COVID-19 vaccine placing magnets on the spot where the vial was injected. The magnet sticks to their skin when placed on their upper arm, which is assumed to be the spot where the jabs were received. 

In the video, the magnet is seen not to stick to other areas of their arm.

According to the video posted by one QueenHadassah, a Twitter user, the occurrence is attributed to microchips or magnetic materials used as “ingredients” for the coronavirus vaccine.

The video has been viewed by over 1,700 viewers, and retweeted nearly a hundred times.

Queen Hadassah had posted the video with the caption “Pastor warned them!!!”. She had earlier shared posts about Chris Oyakhilome, founder and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, who had made controversial claims about the pandemic and vaccine in the past.

https://twitter.com/QFSAREAL/status/1392615760472776707?s=20

Some social media users who commented and shared the post advised those who have not taken COVID-19 to avoid it in order not to get “chipped”.

Christina Onwordi wrote, “Hmmmm ignorant indeed. You have all be WARNED but some will still act the guinea pigs cos of the blindness of their heart, mind and soul.”

Hmmmm ignorant indeed. You have all be WARNED but some will still act the guinea pigs cos of the blindness of their heart, mind and soul. https://t.co/hniRE99Wc1

— christina onwordi (@Amlovedalways) May 13, 2021

Christian Ogey wrote, “Chipped! you are warned when a prophet speaks listen.”

Chipped! you are warned when a prophet speaks listen https://t.co/qCYL0tCjSz

— bénna (@ChristianOgey) May 13, 2021

Michael wrote, “Pastor Chris warned you guys though….now you’re made of metal.”

Kelly wrote, “If you haven’t taken any of these microchip-styled vaccines i.e. moderna, pfizer or AstraZeneca, do yourself a world of good and stay away from them. A word is enough for the wise.”

Bredesigns wrote, “This is why I refuse to get the vaccine.”

Moh wrote, “Ooh my goodness. The vaccines are connecters or conductors,” while Moses Imuan asked his followers not to take the vaccine.

DOES ASTRAZENECA CONTAIN MAGNETIC MATERIALS?

TheCable cannot verify if the persons in the video have actually taken the COVID-19 vaccine and what brand of the approved vaccines they received. TheCable however attempts to answer the burning questions: Does AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine administered in Nigeria contain magnetic ingredients? Are microchips implanted in the process of vaccination?

According to the developers, Oxford University and AstraZeneca, one dose (0.5 ml)  contains “replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS CoV 2 Spike glycoprotein and produced in genetically modified human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells”.

In simpler terms, the active ingredient of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is made from a “modified adenovirus which causes the common cold in chimpanzees. This virus has been modified so that it cannot cause an infection”.

It also contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The other susbtstances added to the vaccine to keep it stable are L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, polysorbate 80, ethanol, sucrose, sodium chloride, disodium edetate dihydrate, and water for injections.

OXFORD VACCINE TEAM DEBUNKS CLAIM

In response to an email from TheCable, the COVID-19 vaccine team at the University of Oxford said the claim in the circulating video is not true. It added that the AstraZeneca vaccine does not contain magnetic ingredients.

“While the ingredient list you have attached is correct, the video is not – there are no ingredients that would cause a magnet to stick to someone’s arm following vaccination,” the team said.

According to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any materials such as microchips, implants, or tracking devices.

“No! COVID-19 vaccine does not alter your DNA. It triggers an immune response that will protect your body against the virus if encountered. Once you and your community members are protected, the chances of the spread of the disease are reduced,” the NPHCDA stated.

“COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any harmful substance or micro-chip. All vaccines including COVID-19 vaccines are manufactured under strict compliance with WHO guidelines.”

VERDICT: The video puporting to show a magnetic response to the COVID-19 vaccine is misleading. The vaccine does not cause a magnetic response and its ingredients don’t contain magnetic materials.