Fact check: Do COVID-19 vaccines cause an 82% miscarriage rate?
Johnson said a study showed an 82% miscarriage rate, a figure the article says misrepresented the study’s data.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates WTAE, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.
The article is a fact check originally published by PolitiFact and republished through a stated partnership with Hearst Television. The named outlet and explicit partnership attribution support transparency, though this page is reproduced rather than original WTAE reporting.
- Source type — A local television news outlet republishes work from an established fact-checking organization.
- Transparency — The page identifies PolitiFact as the original publisher and describes the Hearst Television partnership.
- Editorial standards — The fact check presents the underlying study details and attributes claims to named sources.
- Author attribution — No individual author is identified in the supplied article.
The article explains the denominator behind Johnson’s figure, provides study numbers and follow-up results, and cites researchers, medical guidance and multiple studies. It includes Johnson’s explanation through his spokesperson, though the evidence presented is weighted toward refuting his claim.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents Johnson’s claim and his spokesperson’s explanation, then tests them against the study methodology and subsequent research. Most of the evidence comes from sources supporting the conclusion that the claim is inaccurate, with limited discussion of contrary scientific interpretations.
- Source diversity — The article draws on studies, a medical expert, public-health guidance and a spokesperson.
- Counterarguments presented — Johnson’s claim and his spokesperson’s account of its source are included.
- Omitted context — It offers little space to scientific views that might support Johnson’s interpretation.
- Opinion vs reporting — It is presented as a fact check and supports its ruling with study details.
The article uses a fact-check format, neutral language and study evidence to assess a specific claim. Its critical conclusion follows the evidence it presents rather than a discernible partisan framing.
- Language tone — The language is mostly descriptive and attributes claims and findings to their sources.
- Source selection — It cites the study, follow-up research, a physician and medical organizations, as well as Johnson’s spokesperson.
- Framing — The fact-check format evaluates Johnson’s specific numerical claim against research evidence.
Cites Politifact
This article cites Politifact as its original publisher. ChamberLight has not verified that it is a republication, so the scores are WTAE's own.
20 stories · 82–84 · updated Oct 1, 2026
This is Politifact's own score. The Source Check scores are for WTAE and this article.
A PolitiFact fact check says Sen. Ron Johnson misrepresented a pregnancy-vaccine study when he claimed it showed an 82% miscarriage rate. The article explains that the figure excluded most participants and contrasts it with later research finding no increased risk.
Johnson cited texts in which Anthony Fauci said some reported vaccine side effects theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the first trimester. Johnson also cited a 2021 study, but the article says his 82% figure came from excluding 700 people vaccinated in their third trimester and using only early-vaccinated participants whose pregnancies had already ended by the study cutoff.
The initial study reported 104 miscarriages among 827 completed pregnancies, while a follow-up estimated cumulative miscarriage risk at 12.8% to 14.1%. The article also describes other research, including a 2026 study with a 13.5% cumulative miscarriage risk, and reports PolitiFact’s ruling that Johnson’s statement was false.
Community verdict
17 VOTES
People in this story
SWIPE →Senator whose claim about COVID-19 vaccines and miscarriage the article fact-checks
Former surgeon general nominee who asked Fauci about vaccination timing during pregnancy
Former president whose health officials exchanged texts with Fauci
Former CDC director included in Fauci’s text message exchange
Senator who released Fauci’s text message chains with Johnson
Part of a bigger story
16 OUTLETSRon Johnson and Rand Paul released messages from Anthony Fauci’s government phone discussing COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. Center outlets focus on fact-checking Johnson’s 82% miscarriage-rate claim and explaining what the study data and later research show. Right-leaning outlets stress the contrast between Fauci’s private messages and public assurances, alongside Johnson’s pursuit of records or testimony.
- ARTICLES
- 19
- OUTLETS
- 16
- AVG CRED
- 66
Discussion · 0
Loading comments…