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Exclusive | The linking of Covid-19 vaccines with infertility was almost inevitable
Conspiracy theory claims of female sterilisation and “population control” have long dogged vaccination drives through history
But how did this connection originate? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-how-vaccine-infertility-rumours-spread-to-the-young-rlql2b83g?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=VaxT&utm_medium=branded_social&utm_term=VaxT&utm_content=VaxT
Conspiracy theory claims of female sterilisation and “population control” have long dogged vaccination drives through history
But how did this connection originate? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-how-vaccine-infertility-rumours-spread-to-the-young-rlql2b83g?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=VaxT&utm_medium=branded_social&utm_term=VaxT&utm_content=VaxT
April 2020 
A YouTuber going by the name of Zed Phoenix starts publishing videos on his channel claiming that Bill and Melinda Gates had taken over the UK’s vaccine programme, with Chris Whitty having personally received £31 million from the foundation
A YouTuber going by the name of Zed Phoenix starts publishing videos on his channel claiming that Bill and Melinda Gates had taken over the UK’s vaccine programme, with Chris Whitty having personally received £31 million from the foundation
Phoenix’s real name is Ben Fellows. A 46-year-old from Solihull and a former child actor who in 2012 falsely accused Ken Clarke MP of having molested him 18 years earlier
Fellows was described in court as "an inventive and sometimes persuasive fantasist"
Fellows was described in court as "an inventive and sometimes persuasive fantasist"
His video is watched between 8,000 and 100,000 times and shared on platforms such as Facebook by friends - typical in the early stages of any conspiracy theory.
The majority of those watching are already part of the anti-vax community
Estimated UK reach: Over 100,000
The majority of those watching are already part of the anti-vax community
Estimated UK reach: Over 100,000
May 2020
Fellows’ wild claims were picked up by the American alt-right. David Knight, a former reporter for conspiracy site InfoWars, broadcasts one of Fellows’ videos on his TV programme
Fellows’ wild claims were picked up by the American alt-right. David Knight, a former reporter for conspiracy site InfoWars, broadcasts one of Fellows’ videos on his TV programme
Fellows then fabricates a claim that he is in contact with a “whistleblower” from GlaxoSmithKline, who says the vaccine contains antigens that cause sterility in women
He then alleges 63 women have been tested a “this concoction of chemicals” leaving 61 of them infertile
He then alleges 63 women have been tested a “this concoction of chemicals” leaving 61 of them infertile
Knight tweets the video of this to his 130,000 followers, along with the claim that covid vaccines caused sterility in 97% of women, presenting it as a factual ‘investigation’
Estimated UK reach: around 1 million
Estimated UK reach: around 1 million
From here the infertility hoax becomes a mainstay within conspiracy theory communities. The conspiracy spreads to fringe groups across the world and is promoted in both anti-vax circles and by groups such as QAnon and figures like David Icke
Estimated UK reach: 5 million
Estimated UK reach: 5 million
December 2020
A pivotal moment in the growth of the conspiracy theory comes when Michael Yeadon, a former Pfizer executive, and Dr Wolfgang Wodarg send a petition to the European Medicines Agency, calling for all covid vaccine clinical trials to be halted
A pivotal moment in the growth of the conspiracy theory comes when Michael Yeadon, a former Pfizer executive, and Dr Wolfgang Wodarg send a petition to the European Medicines Agency, calling for all covid vaccine clinical trials to be halted
The veneer of credibility brought by Yeadon’s previous work with Pfizer means the petition draws huge attention 
Individuals not normally exposed to conspiracies see it for the first time, with some believing it and going on to spread it themselves
Individuals not normally exposed to conspiracies see it for the first time, with some believing it and going on to spread it themselves
David Kurten, a member of the London Assembly; Del Bigtree, an American TV producer and Paris Petgrave, a tech company owner, all begin to promote it
The effect is devastating. Within weeks, doctors and nurses report women asking them whether fertility concerns are true
The effect is devastating. Within weeks, doctors and nurses report women asking them whether fertility concerns are true
Finally, the conspiracy theory itself loses its initial connection with Bill Gates as it moves into the mainstream, making it more palatable for a wider audience
Estimated UK reach: 25 million https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-how-vaccine-infertility-rumours-spread-to-the-young-rlql2b83g?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=VaxT&utm_medium=branded_social&utm_term=VaxT&utm_content=VaxT
Estimated UK reach: 25 million
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-how-vaccine-infertility-rumours-spread-to-the-young-rlql2b83g?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=VaxT&utm_medium=branded_social&utm_term=VaxT&utm_content=VaxT
